The Federal Government has declared the unauthorised use of ambassadorial titles a criminal offence, warning that only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can constitutionally appoint and accredit ambassadors. Speaking in Abuja on Friday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa condemned the growing trend of individuals and organisations conferring diplomatic titles such as "Ambassador" and "Diplomatic Envoy" without legal backing. He described the practice as fraudulent, noting it includes the issuance of fake diplomatic passports, identity cards, and counterfeit vehicle number plates bearing official insignia. Ebienfa stressed that brand ambassador roles in commercial settings do not grant diplomatic status and cautioned against using the title "Ambassador" in any official or legal context outside presidential appointment. The ministry is collaborating with the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Federal Road Safety Corps to identify, arrest, and prosecute offenders involved in such impersonation. Any act deemed to misrepresent Nigeria internationally will be met with firm legal action, the government affirmed.
Kimiebi Ebienfa's warning exposes how loosely the title "ambassador" is being traded in public spaces, often detached from its legal meaning. When individuals flaunt fake diplomatic credentials and even design fake number plates, it erodes trust in genuine institutions and risks real diplomatic fallout. Ordinary Nigerians who accept such titles from unofficial groups may now face prosecution, making clarity on legitimacy a personal legal concern. The crackdown signals that symbolic prestige can no longer be self-declared without consequence.
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