Ibe: Odinkalu Was My School Mate at FG College Okigwe

A heated online debate involving prominent Nigerian human rights advocate Chidi Odinkalu erupted on social media platform X on October 25, 2025. The exchange centered on allegations about Odinkalu’s past roles and personal life, drawing strong rebuttals from his associates.

The controversy began with a post from Lere Olayinka, who accused the human rights advocate of promoting LGBTQ rights and undermining former President Goodluck Jonathan. Olayinka specifically linked Odinkalu to the Open Society Justice Initiative, suggesting questionable timing in his affiliations.

### Factual Rebuttals Emerge
Paul Ibe, identifying himself as Odinkalu’s schoolmate from Federal Government College (FGC) Okigwe, issued a detailed response challenging these claims. Ibe asserted that Odinkalu’s role with the Open Society Justice Initiative actually began in 2003, well before his 2011 appointment as National Human Rights Commission chair under President Jonathan.

In his defense of the human rights advocate, Ibe cited their shared academic history and Odinkalu’s established ethical record, including his public asset disclosures. The response aimed to counter what Ibe characterized as misleading narratives about the prominent human rights advocate’s professional timeline.

### Personal Attacks Addressed
The online discussion also veered into personal territory, with attacks directed at Odinkalu’s wife, Iheoma Obibi. Ibe reframed these criticisms by highlighting Obibi’s achievements as a feminist entrepreneur, noting she founded Nigeria’s first online intimacy shop.

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

Public reaction to the exchange remained divided as of October 26, 2025. Some users supported Ibe’s factual rebuttal, while others continued questioning unresolved aspects of the accusations against the human rights advocate. The situation underscores ongoing tensions between personal anecdotes and public narratives in Nigerian discourse.

Neither side has presented definitive evidence to conclusively settle the debate, leaving room for continued discussion about the legacy of this prominent human rights advocate and the credibility of the various claims circulating online. The episode highlights how quickly social media can amplify complex personal and professional allegations.