| Ionas Nicolaou | |
| Native Name: | Ιωνάς Νικολάου |
| Native Name Lang: | el |
| Office: | Minister of Justice and Public Order |
| President: | Nicos Anastasiades |
| Term Start: | 1 March 2013 |
| Term End: | 1 June 2019 |
| Successor: | George L. Savvides |
| Birth Date: | 21 January 1963 |
| Birth Place: | Nicosia, Cyprus |
| Party: | Democratic Rally |
| Alma Mater: | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki |
Ionas Nicolaou (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Ιωνάς Νικολάου; born 21 January 1963 in Nicosia)[1] is a Cypriot lawyer and former Democratic Rally politician. He served as Minister of Justice and Public Order during two governments, but left office on 1 June 2019 following his resignation.
Nicolaou studied law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and has a master's degree in European Union Studies.[1] He worked as a lawyer before becoming a politician.[1]
In 2001, Nicolaou was elected to represent Nicosia in Parliament, and continued to do so until 2013.[1] He was the chairman of the Cypriot parliament's legal affairs committee,[2] Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, and Member of the Parliamentary Committee on the Interior.[1]
Nicolaou was first appointed Minister of Justice and Public Order on 1 March 2013,[3] during the first Anastasiades government. During this time, Nicolaou oversaw high-profile corruption cases, such as the CYTA land deal and pension fund allegations, for which he vowed to end impunity and "go after" anyone involved in crimes.[4] Nicolaou oversaw the creation of a complaints committee to uphold human rights at the Menoyia (Menogeia) Immigration Detention Centre, which held its first meeting in July 2013.[5]
Nicolaou supported the creation of deputy ministers with a focus on commercial shipping, development, and the European Union.[6] He argued that the new deputy ministers would work with their respective ministers, but not sit in the Cabinet, so that output could be increased within the various governmental departments.[6]
He continued to be Minister of Justice and Public Order during the second Anastasiades government, starting on 13 February 2018.[7]
Nicolaou resigned on 2 May 2019, after accusations of police failure relating to the investigation of Nikos Metaxas, a serial killer.[8] Officials were accused of carelessness when investigating the missing persons reports of the seven victims, due to their status as migrants.[8] Along with his resignation, Nicolaou called for an independent inquiry into the lack of initial investigation.[8]
Nicolaou stepped down as minister on 1 June 2019, and was succeeded by George L. Savvides.[9] He announced he would not be returning to politics in any way, instead returning to practice law.[10]
Nicolaou is married with two daughters.[1]