CSOs Demand Withdrawal of Jimoh Ibrahim’s UN Appointment, Petition Anti-Graft Agencies

A coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately withdraw the appointment of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, citing what it described as “serious legal and integrity concerns.”

In an open letter dated March 23, 2026, and copied to UN Secretary-General , the coalition argued that Ibrahim’s appointment undermines Nigeria’s global credibility, pointing to multiple court cases, alleged unpaid debts, and ongoing criminal proceedings linked to the senator.

The groups referenced a long-standing labour dispute involving former staff of NICON Airways, where court rulings reportedly awarded over N1.5 billion in unpaid wages and entitlements. They also cited actions by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which previously secured court orders to seize several properties linked to Ibrahim over alleged debts running into tens of billions of naira.

Further concerns were raised over a pending criminal charge filed by the Nigeria Revenue Service, accusing the senator of alleged tax evasion amounting to N4.86 billion, alongside claims involving forged tax clearance documents. The coalition stressed that the case remains unresolved before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The civil society organisations also pointed to past findings by a National Assembly committee which alleged diversion of intervention funds linked to the defunct Air Nigeria. According to the coalition, a Senate resolution directing recovery of the funds has yet to be enforced.

Describing the appointment as an “institutional embarrassment,” the coalition warned that sending a public official with unresolved legal and financial issues to represent Nigeria at the United Nations could damage the country’s international standing and signal disregard for the rule of law.

Beyond the call for withdrawal, the coalition urged the President to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to provide updates on pending cases, while also calling on AMCON to disclose recovery efforts on outstanding debts. It further demanded enforcement of previous legislative resolutions related to financial recovery.

In parallel petitions addressed to the Nigeria Revenue Service, the , and the , the coalition requested immediate action to enforce outstanding criminal charges and financial obligations against the senator.

The petitions urged the agencies to prevent Ibrahim from assuming the diplomatic role until all pending legal matters are resolved, warning that failure to act could allow diplomatic status to shield him from prosecution.

Signatories to the letters include prominent civil society groups in Nigeria.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Presidency or the agencies named in the petitions. The development sets the stage for a potential legal and political showdown over the controversial diplomatic nomination.