He was also special rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the adverse effects of illicit movement and dumping of toxic waste on human rights.
A former Fellow of the United Nations University, Tokyo, he has also been a visiting scholar at Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford University, and the Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington D.C.
Professor Ibeanu sits on the boards of many research institutions including the Centre for Democracy and Development.
His latest book titled Oiling Violence (2006) is on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Niger Delta.
As of 2016 Okechukwu Ibeanu has officially been titled one of the commissioners of the Independent National "INEC" Electoral Commission.