THIS DAWN — The recent conferment of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on billionaire businessman Gilbert Chagoury has ignited a firestorm of controversy, following a damning open letter from Funso Doherty to the National Assembly.
Doherty, a prominent PDP figure and public accountability advocate, has accused the Presidency of bypassing legal and procedural norms in what he calls a “troubling and opaque” award process.
The honour, reportedly bestowed on January 8, 2026, was not announced through any official government channel.
Instead, Nigerians learned of it incidentally—via a private congratulatory message nearly two weeks later.
This clandestine disclosure has raised serious questions about transparency, legality, and the integrity of Nigeria’s national honours system.
‘Multiple Irregularities’
In his letter, Doherty highlighted multiple irregularities.
First, he notes that the National Honours Act requires the President to signify such appointments via a notice in the Federal Gazette.
No such notice has been issued.
Second, the Instrument of Conferment circulating in the public domain claims the award was given “under the President’s hand and seal” in Abuja.
This, Doherty noted, was despite the President being publicly known to be outside the country on that date.
Since the power to confer national honours is not delegable, Doherty argues that the validity of the award itself is in doubt.
Elite Impunity
“This is not just a procedural lapse,” Doherty writes.
“It is a direct affront to the values, integrity, and collective honour of our nation,” he said.
He, therefore, called on the National Assembly to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Doherty warned that the prestige of Nigeria’s highest honours is being eroded by political favoritism and secrecy.
The silence from the Presidency and the absence of any official rebuttal or clarification only deepen public suspicion.
Critics say the award reeks of cronyism, pointing to Chagoury’s long-standing personal ties to the President.
Nigeria is currently grappling with economic hardship and governance failures.
Amidst those challenges, the secretive conferment of one of its highest honours on a controversial figure—without due process or public accountability—has become a symbol of elite impunity.
