CHRICED Condemns Appointment of Former INEC Chairman, Reno Omokri, Ex-Abia Governor,Others as Ambassadors
The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has strongly condemned the appointment and confirmation of some politically exposed persons as Nigeria’s foreign ambassadors, describing the move as a dangerous reward for alleged misconduct and a threat to the country’s democratic credibility.
In a press statement issued on Friday, signed by Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education CHRICED expressed particular concern over the appointment of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, alongside other former public officials facing unresolved allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
The organisation said the appointments come at a time when Nigeria urgently needs diplomats with strong ethical records to rebuild its international image, stressing that recycling individuals with controversial public records undermines trust in democratic institutions.
CHRICED described Prof. Yakubu’s appointment as especially troubling, citing his role in overseeing the 2023 presidential election, which it said was widely disputed due to operational failures, delayed result uploads, and alleged irregularities involving the BVAS and IReV platforms.
According to the group, both domestic and international observers documented lapses that weakened public confidence in the electoral process, adding that rewarding the former INEC chairman with an ambassadorial post sends the wrong signal about accountability in Nigeria.
The rights group also raised alarm over the nomination of former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, who was linked to the 2017 Ikoyi cash discovery scandal and was later declared wanted by a court for failing to appear for trial.
CHRICED argued that appointing Oke as an ambassador, which confers diplomatic immunity, undermines ongoing demands for justice and accountability in high-profile corruption cases.
Other appointments criticised include that of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, accused of mismanaging public funds during his tenure as Sole Administrator of Rivers State, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who was allegedly indicted in a 2024 audit report, and political commentator Reno Omokri, whose political realignment the group described as questionable.
The organisation also faulted the 10th National Assembly for confirming the nominees, accusing lawmakers of failing to conduct rigorous oversight and acting as a rubber-stamp for the executive.
CHRICED warned that such actions could further damage Nigeria’s global standing, noting reports of tighter visa restrictions and strained diplomatic relations with some foreign countries, including the United States.
The group said a system that rewards alleged misconduct cannot effectively fight corruption or insecurity, as it erodes public trust in the rule of law and fuels instability.
CHRICED called on civil society organisations, the media, and the international community to resist what it described as the growing normalisation of impunity, insisting that Nigeria’s foreign missions should reflect integrity and accountability.