From scandal to embassy: CHRICED condemns appointment of indicted officials as ambassadors

Stanley Ihedigbo

Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has expressed deep concern over the appointment and confirmation of former public officials with controversial records as Nigeria’s foreign ambassadors, warning that the move undermines accountability, weakens democratic institutions, and damages the country’s international reputation.

In a press statement issued, signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, CHRICED described the development as a dangerous pattern of rewarding alleged misconduct with diplomatic immunity, rather than enforcing accountability.

According to the organisation, Nigeria, at a time when it urgently needs credible and ethically grounded diplomats to repair its battered global image, has instead elevated politically exposed persons (PEPs) whose public service records are clouded by allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and unresolved integrity concerns.

CHRICED singled out the appointment of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, describing it as particularly troubling.

The organisation recalled that Yakubu presided over the 2023 presidential election, widely regarded as one of the most controversial in Nigeria’s democratic history.

Despite public assurances of transparency through the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), the election, CHRICED noted, was characterised by operational failures, delayed uploads of results, widespread irregularities, and allegations of manipulation.

Domestic and international election observers documented significant lapses that undermined the credibility of the process, while civil society groups and political parties accused INEC of failing to adhere to its own guidelines.

CHRICED argued that the election eroded public trust in democratic institutions and left many Nigerians disillusioned.

“Rather than being held accountable for presiding over a disputed election that weakened confidence in Nigeria’s democracy, Prof. Yakubu has been rewarded with a prestigious ambassadorial posting,” the group said, adding that the move sends a dangerous signal that undermining democratic processes attracts rewards, not sanctions.

The organisation also expressed alarm over the nomination of former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, who was implicated in a high-profile corruption scandal involving millions of dollars discovered in a Lagos apartment in 2017.

CHRICED recalled that Oke and his wife were indicted and ordered to appear in court but failed to do so, leading to a bench warrant declaring them wanted for evading justice.

The group said Oke’s elevation to ambassadorial status, with the attendant diplomatic immunity, represents a direct affront to Nigerians’ demand for accountability.

“For years, Mr. Oke remained beyond the reach of the law. Granting him diplomatic status now confers legitimacy and protection on someone who should be answering serious legal questions,” the statement read.

CHRICED further listed other nominees whose records, it said, raise serious concerns.

These include retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, accused of mismanaging N283 billion during a six-month tenure in 2025, and former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who was reportedly indicted in a 2024 KPMG audit for alleged diversion of N1.9 trillion.

The organisation also referenced Reno Omokri, noting his political volte-face after previously making allegations against President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 election cycle.

“These appointments, taken together, reflect a disturbing trend where public office is used as a refuge for individuals facing serious allegations rather than as a platform for service to the nation,” CHRICED said.

The rights group strongly criticised the 10th National Assembly for confirming the nominees, accusing lawmakers of failing in their constitutional duty of oversight.

According to the CHRICED, the legislature acted as a rubber stamp, approving nominees whose records required rigorous scrutiny.

The group said the conduct further entrenched a culture of impunity and reinforced public perception of moral crisis within the legislative arm of government.

CHRICED warned that the appointments could have serious international consequences, pointing to recent tightening of visa restrictions by some countries, including the United States, as evidence of growing global unease about Nigeria’s governance trajectory.

“When countries begin restricting visas, reviewing bilateral engagements, or downgrading diplomatic relations, it reflects a deep erosion of trust in Nigeria’s leadership,” the organisation said.

The organisation argued that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity is closely linked to the culture of impunity, stressing that a system that rewards misconduct cannot effectively fight corruption or enforce the rule of law.

“When citizens see individuals accused of looting public funds or compromising institutions rewarded with diplomatic immunity, faith in justice collapses,” CHRICED said, adding that such erosion of trust fuels resentment and instability.
Call for Vigilance

CHRICED called on civil society organisations, the media, professional bodies, and the international community to remain vigilant and resist what it described as the normalisation of impunity.

“Nigeria deserves leaders who embody integrity. Our foreign missions must reflect the best of our nation, not the worst,” the statement concluded.