H.E. Ifeoma Chinwuba, Ag. High Commissioner for Nigeria to Canada announced that on Friday, May 31st in Abuja, Nigeria, Dr. (Mrs.) S.I. Muhammed, OON, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) on behalf of H.E. the President of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua GCFR, invested Vincent M. Del Buono of Niagara on the Lake and Toronto into the Order of the Federal Republic.

The citation for the National Honour read at the investiture detailed Mr. Del Buono's achievements in promoting justice sector reform and human rights especially for the poor in Nigeria. These efforts constituted a significant contribution to the attainment of the national objective of enhancing respect for the rule of law and human rights. The citation also recognized his contributions to the ‘upliftment of humanity’ internationally when United National Inter-regional Adviser on Crime and Justice and Deputy Secretary General (Political), Amnesty International.

The citation noted his leadership as the founding President of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law which has had many distinguished Nigerian members from its outset and as the founding president of the International Centre for Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Policy in Vancouver. It also detailed his academic appointments at McGill University, the University of Ottawa, the University of British Columbia, Southwestern School of Law, Los Angeles and York University.

Vincent Del Buono previously received the International Society of Criminal Law Medal, The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson Laureateship in Public Service from Massey College, Toronto and two traditional Nigerian titles, Eze Oka Iwu (The King's Law Maker), Abor Community, Enugu State and Wakilin Sulhu (The Emir's Chief Mediator), Dutse Emirate, Jigawa State.

He has been married for more than 31 years to Jennifer Pothier, a St. Catharines’ native and Ontario lawyer who from 2003 to 2007 worked in Nigeria with UNICEF to improve juvenile justice and with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime designing a major anti-corruption program. She is currently Executive Director of the Niagara North Community Legal Assistance.

Each year, the President of Nigeria on the recommendation of the National Honours Committee and with the concurrence of the National Assembly confers National Honours on approximately 250 Nigerians and a few non-Nigerians.