Over 100 civil society organisations, including some of Nigeria’s most prominent advocacy groups BudgIT Foundation, Yiaga Africa, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), CLEEN Foundation, and Enough is Enough Nigeria have jointly written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres demanding a review of the appointment of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, citing unpaid salaries to over 300 former NICON Airways employees, a N1.5 billion court judgment, a 10-count tax charge, and ongoing legal proceedings.
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In an unprecedented joint action, 106 civil society organisations have addressed an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, calling for a thorough review of the appointment of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The coalition argued that the Permanent Mission to the United Nations represents the sovereign voice of over 220 million Nigerians within the multilateral system, and that its credibility is directly linked to the integrity, legal standing, and public record of its representative.
“The Permanent Mission represents the sovereign voice of over 220 million Nigerians within the multilateral system. Its credibility is directly linked to the integrity, legal standing, and public record of its representative.”
The 106 signatories highlighted a series of ongoing financial and legal issues tied to Senator Ibrahim’s business activities that they say raise serious questions about the appropriateness of his appointment to represent Nigeria at the highest level of international diplomacy.
- Unpaid Salaries to Over 300 NICON Airways Employees
The coalition cited unpaid salaries owed to over 300 former employees of NICON Airways since May 2007. These workers have waited nearly two decades for their entitlements, with the matter still unresolved despite multiple court proceedings.
- N1.5 Billion Court Judgment — Upheld on Appeal
The CSOs noted that the National Industrial Court awarded N1.5 billion in Suit No. NICON/LA/192/2011 in 2013, and that this judgment was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2017 in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/280/M/2014. The judgment relates to the unpaid salary and pension obligations owed to the former NICON Airways workers.
Despite the court’s ruling being affirmed on appeal, the salary arrears and pension obligations remain outstanding, with further proceedings still before the Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit No. FHL/L/CL/776/2016.
- 10-Count Tax Charge Before Federal High Court, Abuja
The letter further stated that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (now the Nigeria Revenue Service) filed a 10-count charge before the Federal High Court, Abuja, concerning alleged tax liabilities linked to Air Nigeria. These proceedings remain before the court.
- Aviation Intervention Funds
While the National Assembly had previously cleared Senator Ibrahim of personal wrongdoing in relation to aviation intervention funds, the civil society groups argued that the status of recovery of public funds remains part of the public record and a legitimate policy concern.
The coalition framed the issue as one that extends far beyond the individual appointment. They argued that diplomatic appointments are instruments of state that signal a country’s commitment to the rule of law, institutional integrity, and governance standards.
“Diplomatic appointments are instruments of state. They signal a country’s commitment to the rule of law, institutional integrity, and governance standards. Publicly documented legal and financial matters may attract scrutiny and raise questions about consistency in the application of domestic laws and standards.”
The groups referenced Nigeria’s own governance frameworks, including the National Ethics and Integrity Policy and the National Values Charter, which emphasise integrity, accountability, transparency, and personal responsibility in public service. They argued that appointing an individual with outstanding court judgments, unresolved tax charges, and unpaid workers’ salaries to represent Nigeria at the United Nations is inconsistent with these stated national values.
The 106 organisations made three specific demands in their open letter:
- A thorough review of the appointment of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, taking into account the publicly documented legal and financial issues.
- Public clarification from relevant authorities on the status of ongoing cases and enforcement actions, including matters before the Federal High Court and recovery processes involving public institutions.
- Assurance that appointments to positions of international representation are consistent with Nigeria’s stated commitments to the rule of law and institutional accountability, with clarity on vetting standards for senior diplomatic appointments.
The coalition was careful to frame the issue as one of systemic governance, not merely personal criticism. They argued that what is at stake is the coherence between Nigeria’s legal processes, its governance frameworks, and the standards applied in public service.
“This issue extends beyond a single appointment. It concerns the coherence between Nigeria’s legal processes, its governance frameworks, and the standards applied in public service. Nigeria’s credibility, both domestically and internationally, is strengthened when institutions demonstrate consistency, transparency, and adherence to due process.”
The message was clear: if Nigeria appoints an individual with documented legal and financial issues to its most prominent diplomatic position, it raises questions about whether the country applies its own laws and governance standards consistently — a concern that could attract scrutiny not only domestically but within the international community and the United Nations system itself.
- Unpaid Salaries: Over 300 former NICON Airways employees owed salaries since May 2007 — nearly two decades.
- National Industrial Court Judgment: N1.5 billion awarded in 2013 (Suit No. NICON/LA/192/2011).
- Court of Appeal: Judgment upheld in 2017 (Suit No. NICN/ABJ/280/M/2014).
- Federal High Court, Lagos: Salary arrears and pension obligations still pending (Suit No. FHL/L/CL/776/2016).
- Tax Charges: 10-count charge filed by FIRS (now NRS) before Federal High Court, Abuja, concerning alleged tax liabilities linked to Air Nigeria. Proceedings ongoing.
- Aviation Intervention Funds: National Assembly cleared Senator Ibrahim of personal wrongdoing, but CSOs say recovery status remains a public policy concern.
The open letter was signed by 106 civil society organisations, including some of the most influential and well-known advocacy groups in Nigeria. Among the notable signatories are:
- BudgIT Foundation — Nigeria’s leading civic-tech organisation for fiscal transparency
- Yiaga Africa — prominent election monitoring and governance organisation
- Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)
- CLEEN Foundation — public safety and criminal justice reform
- Enough is Enough (EIE) Nigeria — governance and civic engagement
- Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
- Spaces for Change
- Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL)
- Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC)
- National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ)
- Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ)
- Hope Behind Bars Africa
- Alliances for Africa
- Dorothy Njemanze Foundation
- The Cece Yara Foundation
- Women’s Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
- Accountability Lab Nigeria
- Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN)
- League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV)
The full list of 106 signatories spans human rights organisations, women’s groups, youth organisations, media advocacy bodies, health and development foundations, environmental groups, and international justice centres, representing a broad cross-section of Nigerian civil society.
The coalition deliberately anchored their argument in Nigeria’s own governance frameworks rather than relying solely on external standards. They referenced the National Ethics and Integrity Policy and the National Values Charter, both of which emphasise integrity, accountability, transparency, and personal responsibility in public service.
By citing these domestic frameworks, the CSOs made it difficult for the government to dismiss their concerns as externally driven or politically motivated. The argument is straightforward: Nigeria has its own standards. Those standards should apply to all public appointments, including and especially appointments to positions of international representation where Nigeria’s image and credibility are most visible.
“Nigeria’s credibility, both domestically and internationally, is strengthened when institutions demonstrate consistency, transparency, and adherence to due process.”
The open letter now sits before both President Tinubu and UN Secretary-General Guterres. The scale of the coalition 106 organisations, including some of Nigeria’s most respected and internationally connected civil society groups makes it difficult to ignore.
Whether the President will order a review of the appointment, whether relevant authorities will issue the public clarification demanded by the coalition on the status of ongoing cases, and whether vetting standards for senior diplomatic appointments will be tightened remains to be seen.
For now, the 106 organisations have placed the issue firmly in the public domain, and the burden of response lies with the Presidency and the United Nations.
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