Ionas Nicolaou

Ionas Nicolaou (; born 21 January 1963 in Nicosia) 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.

Education and career Nicolaou studied law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and has a master's degree in European Union Studies. Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, and Member of the Parliamentary Committee on the Interior. during the first Anastasiades government. 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.

Nicolaou supported the creation of deputy ministers with a focus on commercial shipping, development, and the European Union. 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.

Resignation as minister Nicolaou resigned on 2 May 2019, after accusations of police failure relating to the investigation of Nikos Metaxas, a serial killer. Officials were accused of carelessness when investigating the missing persons reports of the seven victims, due to their status as migrants. He announced he would not be returning to politics in any way, instead returning to practice law.

Personal life Nicolaou is married with two daughters.