Timi Frank slams GCON for Chagoury, warns of normalised corruption

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has criticised the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on businessman Gilbert Chagoury, describing the decision as a troubling development that could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s anti-corruption stance.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, Frank said the award—Nigeria’s second-highest national honour—raises serious ethical and governance concerns in light of widely reported allegations and past judicial proceedings linking Chagoury to money-laundering cases connected to funds looted during the regime of late military ruler, General Sani Abacha.

Frank described the honour as “a dark moment” for the country, warning that it sends a dangerous signal that corruption and conflicts of interest are being tolerated, or even rewarded, at the highest levels of government.

“Today ranks among the saddest days of my life as a Nigerian,” Frank said, recalling reports that a Swiss court convicted Chagoury in 2000 over money-laundering related to Abacha-era funds.

He noted that the case reportedly ended with Chagoury paying a fine of one million Swiss francs and returning about $66 million to the Nigerian government.

According to Frank, honouring an individual with such a history undermines public trust and weakens Nigeria’s moral authority in the fight against corruption.

“To bestow one of our highest national honours on a person publicly tainted by allegations and judicial findings of corruption sends a deeply troubling message about our national values,” he said.

The former APC spokesman also raised concerns about alleged conflicts of interest, pointing to reports that Chagoury is a business associate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He cited the controversial Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project, which has generated public debate following reports that it was awarded without competitive bidding to Hitech Construction Company, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group.

Frank argued that the optics surrounding both the award and the infrastructure project risk fuelling public suspicion of abuse of power. “A sitting President should not be in business dealings—directly or indirectly—with close associates while holding office,” he said.

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He further highlighted what he described as institutional contradictions within government, noting that the current National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, previously served as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when Chagoury was reportedly investigated as one of Abacha’s key associates.

Frank, who currently serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East and Senior Adviser to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA, claimed that Chagoury left Nigeria during that period and only returned after settling fines and returning funds.

He also referenced reports of Chagoury’s alleged past issues with United States authorities over money-laundering claims, which were later settled, arguing that such a record should ordinarily disqualify anyone from receiving a prestigious national honour.

He also alluded to persistent claims that Chagoury wields significant influence over major infrastructure and commercial decisions in Nigeria, allegedly to the detriment of fair competition and, in some cases, foreign business interests. If true, Frank said, such claims raise serious questions about transparency, accountability and the capture of state policy by private interests.

“Nigeria should not become a theatre where corruption is rewarded, conflicts of interest are ignored, and foreign influence is leveraged against national and allied economic interests,” he warned, adding that the controversy has implications beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Frank criticised what he described as a growing disconnect between government actions and public sentiment, arguing that transparency and accountability are increasingly sidelined. He questioned the criteria used in conferring the GCON on Chagoury and called on authorities to clearly outline his contributions to national development.

“What hospitals, schools or scholarships has he built or funded to merit this honour?” Frank asked. “Nigerians deserve to know what qualifies him for this award and why other business leaders with clearer public records are overlooked.”