TDA coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations has formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging immediate enforcement of outstanding criminal charges and financial recovery obligations against Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
The petition comes ahead of his scheduled departure to New York as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu.
The coalition warns that allowing Ibrahim to assume a diplomatic post abroad without resolving these matters would represent a “grave dereliction of institutional duty” and risk placing the proceedings beyond Nigeria’s effective jurisdiction.
Allegations and Institutional Records
The petition highlights several unresolved issues:
- Air Nigeria Loan Diversion: The National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Aviation previously documented that Air Nigeria collapsed after Senator Ibrahim allegedly diverted a ₦35.5 billion government intervention loan into his private company, NICON Investment Limited. A 2014 Senate resolution directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to recover the funds, but no recovery has been confirmed.
- Energy Bank of Ghana Acquisition: Former Air Nigeria Finance Director, John Nnorom, testified in 2016 that Ibrahim diverted AFRIXIM loan funds to acquire Energy Bank of Ghana in his personal name. Nnorom was later prosecuted at Ibrahim’s instance but discharged and acquitted, vindicating his testimony.
- AMCON Debt Seizure: In 2016, AMCON seized 12 properties linked to Ibrahim under Suit No. FHL/L/CL/776/2016, citing his companies as “recalcitrant and unenthusiastic” in repaying a ₦69.4 billion debt. His appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in December 2021, confirming continued non-compliance.
- EFCC Interrogation: Ibrahim was interrogated by EFCC agents in 2012 over the Air Nigeria scandal, with reports alleging destruction of documents prior to questioning. The coalition seeks ICPC clarification on whether any investigation remains active.
Civil Society Demands
The coalition’s petition calls on ICPC to:
- Provide a status update on investigations linked to the 2012 EFCC interrogation.
- Determine whether the 2014 Senate resolution on recovery of ₦35.5 billion provides grounds for reopening a formal probe.
- Coordinate with relevant agencies to preserve Nigerian jurisdiction over Ibrahim while charges remain unresolved.
- Investigate the full scope of financial crimes disclosed in court records.
Institutional Crisis
The petition frames Ibrahim’s UN appointment as an “institutional crisis,” arguing that permitting a named defendant and obligor to represent Nigeria internationally would signal tolerance of impunity.
Civil society leaders insist that ICPC and other agencies act swiftly and publicly, stressing that diplomatic appointments must not serve as shields against accountability.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s pending financial and criminal liabilities remain unresolved as he prepares to assume a high-profile diplomatic role.
Nigerian civil society organisations are pressing ICPC to enforce accountability measures before his departure.
They warned that failure to act undermines both domestic law enforcement and Nigeria’s international credibility.
Read also:
Civil Society Coalition Demands Withdrawal of Jimoh Ibrahim’s UN Appointment (Part 1)
Civil Society Coalition Asks Revenue Agency to Enforce Criminal Charges, Financial Recovery Against Jimoh Ibrahim (Part 2)
Civil Society Coalition Petitions EFCC to Enforce Jimoh Ibrahim’s Financial Crimes Charges Before He Departs as UN Perm Rep (Part 3)
