The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu following the secret conferment of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on controversial businessman Gilbert Chagoury.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Frank described the decision to bestow Nigeria’s second-highest national honour on the Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire as a “sad day” for the country, arguing that it signals the official normalisation of corruption at the highest levels of government.
The award was conferred by Tinubu on 8 January, coinciding with Chagoury’s 80th birthday, and made public on Monday after billionaire Femi Otedola shared a congratulatory message on X.
Frank, in a statement on Tuesday, described the award as a concerning development, arguing that it undermines Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts. He said the decision “sends a dangerous signal that corruption and conflicts of interest are being normalised at the highest levels of power.”
Frank referenced widely reported allegations and judicial findings linking Chagoury to money laundering during the regime of the late General Sani Abacha.
“Today ranks among the saddest days of my life as a Nigerian,” Frank said. He noted that a Swiss court convicted Chagoury in 2000 in connection with laundering Abacha’s funds, following which he paid a fine of one million Swiss francs and returned about $66 million to the Nigerian government. “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 added.
Frank further questioned the criteria used to award Chagoury, asking Nigerians to seek clarity on his contributions to national development.
“What hospitals, schools, or scholarships has he built or funded to merit this honour?” he asked. “Beyond his name being linked for years to alleged corruption cases without clear conclusions, Nigerians deserve to know what qualifies him for this award and who among our business leaders has been similarly honoured.”
He also warned against normalising foreign influence over national economic interests, stating, “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.”
Chagoury’s business interests span the Chagoury Group, which operates in construction, real estate, hospitality, healthcare, industrial services, telecommunications, water purification, flour milling, insurance, furniture manufacturing, catering, and international financing. The group has been involved in major infrastructure projects, including the $11 billion Lagos–Calabar coastal highway and the N1.1 trillion renovation of Tincan and Apapa Ports.
The businessman is also closely associated with Tinubu, with ties dating back to the latter’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. The Chagoury family reportedly maintains ongoing business and personal connections with the Tinubu family.
Leaked documents reviewed by investigative partners indicate that Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, was a majority shareholder in a British Virgin Islands company alongside Ronald Chagoury Jr., demonstrating the intergenerational nature of their business relationship. Seyi Tinubu is also a board member of CDK Integrated Industries, a Chagoury Group subsidiary.
Chagoury’s earlier involvement in facilitating the transfer of funds looted under the Abacha regime has drawn international attention. Court records and US investigative reports indicate that he created accounts in Geneva to move over $120 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of the Abacha family. Despite a conviction in
Switzerland and repayment of $66 million to the Nigerian government, Chagoury has continued to expand his business operations in Nigeria and benefit from government contracts, including in Lagos.
The award has sparked public debate over the message it sends regarding accountability and the government’s anti-corruption stance. Analysts suggest that the conferral of national honours on individuals with contested histories may influence public trust in institutions and shape perceptions of governance norms.
In the meantime, Chagoury has received public congratulations from Otedola, who cited the businessman’s role in Lagos development projects, including Eko Atlantic City and Banana Island.
The presidency has yet to issue an official statement regarding the award, leaving questions about the criteria and process for selecting honourees unanswered.
