Probe Chagoury’s GCON Honour, Doherty Charges National Assembly

Former presidential aspirant and public policy advocate, Funso Doherty, has called on the National Assembly to investigate the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on businessman Gilbert Chagoury.

In a letter dated January 24, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Doherty raised concerns over the transparency and legality of the award process. He noted that news of the honour only emerged after a private individual publicly congratulated Chagoury, rather than through official government channels. Doherty also highlighted that the Instrument of Conferment indicates the award was granted on January 8, 2026, a date on which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was reportedly out of the country. He questioned the validity of the award, noting that presidential powers to confer national honours cannot be delegated Under the National Honours Act, all national awards are expected to be formalised through a National Honours Warrant and published in the Federal Gazette. Doherty said there was no evidence that such steps were taken in Chagoury’s case, raising concerns about procedural compliance. The GCON is Nigeria’s second-highest national honour, typically awarded to high-ranking officials, eminent jurists, and foreign dignitaries for distinguished service. Chagoury, a Lebanese-Nigerian businessman known for his investments in construction and urban development, has previously been in the public eye due to his business dealings and past controversies. The award became publicly known after investor Femi Otedola congratulated Chagoury on social media, praising his contributions to national infrastructure and economic growth. Doherty’s letter urges the House of Representatives to exercise its constitutional oversight role and scrutinise the process to ensure the integrity of the national honours system. Neither the Presidency nor Chagoury has issued an official response as of yet.