The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) expresses profound alarm over the appointment and confirmation of Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside several politically exposed persons (PEPs), as Nigeria’s foreign ambassadors.
According to a statement issued on Friday by Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, Executive Director of CHRICED, the disturbing practice of recycling individuals with tainted public records undermines Nigeria’s global reputation, weakens democratic institutions, and signals a dangerous normalization of impunity.
At a time when Nigeria urgently needs credible, ethical, and globally respected diplomats to repair its battered international image, the administration has instead chosen to elevate individuals whose public service records are marred by allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and unresolved integrity concerns.
The Case of Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu: Architect of a Disputed Election and Beneficiary of Impunity
The appointment of Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu is particularly troubling.
As INEC Chairman, Yakubu presided over the 2023 presidential election, one of the most controversial and divisive polls in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Despite public expectations for transparency, especially with the deployment of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) portal, the election was riddled with operational failures, delayed result uploads, widespread irregularities, and allegations of manipulation.
Domestic and international observers documented significant lapses that undermined the credibility of the process.
Many Nigerians viewed the election as compromised, with civil society groups, political parties, and election monitors describing it as a betrayal of democratic trust.
Under Yakubu’s leadership, INEC failed to uphold its own guidelines, leading to accusations that the election lacked transparency and integrity.
Rather than being held accountable for presiding over a disputed election that eroded public confidence, Yakubu is now being rewarded with a prestigious ambassadorial posting. This appointment sends a dangerous message: that undermining democratic processes is not only tolerated but rewarded with diplomatic privilege.
The Case of Ayodele Oke: A Fugitive from Justice Elevated to Diplomatic Status
Equally alarming is the nomination of Ayodele Oke, former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Oke was at the centre of one of Nigeria’s most infamous corruption scandals, involving millions of dollars discovered in a Lagos apartment in 2017.
Following investigations, Oke and his wife were indicted and ordered to appear in court. Their repeated failure to do so led to a bench warrant declaring them wanted for evading justice.
For years, Oke remained outside the reach of the law, raising serious concerns about political protection for high profile individuals implicated in corruption.
To now appoint him as a foreign ambassador, granting him diplomatic immunity and international legitimacy, is a direct affront to Nigerians who continue to demand accountability.
Other Troubling Appointments
• Ibok Ete Ibas, retired Vice Admiral and former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, faces allegations of mismanaging N283 billion during his six-month tenure in 2025.
• Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia State, was indicted in a 2024 KPMG audit for allegedly diverting N1.9 trillion from the state treasury.
• Reno Omokri, once a fierce critic of President Tinubu during the 2023 election cycle, made a sudden political U-turn despite previously claiming to possess U.S. court documents implicating Tinubu in drug-related activities.
These appointments collectively reflect a troubling pattern: public office is being used as a refuge for individuals facing serious allegations, rather than a platform for national service.
Failure of Oversight: A Complicit National Assembly
CHRICED strongly condemns the 10th National Assembly for its swift confirmation of these politically exposed individuals. Rather than serving as a constitutional check on executive excesses, the legislature has once again acted as a rubber stamp body, approving nominees whose records demand scrutiny, not celebration.
This pattern is unsurprising to many Nigerians, given widespread public perception that the National Assembly itself is populated by individuals facing unresolved corruption allegations and plagued by a crisis of moral legitimacy.
By endorsing these appointments without rigorous vetting, the National Assembly has further entrenched the culture of impunity and demonstrated a troubling disregard for the ethical standards expected of a democratic institution.
International Consequences: Nigeria’s Global Standing Under Threat
CHRICED notes with grave concern that these appointments may have contributed to and triggered the recent tightening of visa restrictions by several countries, including the United States of America.
Reports of visa bans affecting Nigerians and the withdrawal or downgrading of diplomatic engagement by foreign governments reflect growing international unease about Nigeria’s governance trajectory.
When nations begin restricting visas, reviewing bilateral cooperation, or withdrawing envoys, it signals a deep erosion of trust in Nigeria’s leadership.
These developments are not isolated, they are part of a broader global response to the perception that Nigeria is entrenching impunity at the highest levels.
A System That Rewards Misconduct Cannot Fight Corruption
CHRICED raises a fundamental question: How can Nigeria’s anti corruption agencies decisively fight corruption when the government continues to demonstrate that crime pays?
When individuals facing serious allegations are elevated to prestigious diplomatic positions, it sends a chilling message to law enforcement institutions that:
• accountability is optional,
• political loyalty supersedes integrity, and
• corruption is a pathway to reward, not punishment.
No anti corruption agency can function effectively under such conditions.
Insecurity Thrives Where Impunity Reigns
Nigeria’s worsening insecurity cannot be separated from the culture of impunity that has taken root. When citizens see individuals accused of looting public funds or compromising national institutions rewarded with diplomatic immunity, it erodes faith in the rule of law. This breakdown of trust fuels resentment, desperation, and instability.
A government that signals, through its appointments, that wrongdoing carries no consequences cannot credibly demand lawfulness from its citizens.
A Call to Defend Nigeria’s Democratic Future
CHRICED calls on civil society, the media, professional bodies, and the international community to remain vigilant and resist the normalization of impunity.
Nigeria’s democracy cannot survive if institutions are weakened, accountability is abandoned, and public office becomes a sanctuary for individuals seeking protection from scrutiny.
Nigeria deserves leaders who embody integrity, not individuals whose records raise serious questions. Our foreign missions must reflect the best of our nation, not the worst.
