The alleged fake National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office was far more elaborate than a single unauthorised office, with its website presenting a nationwide network of zonal and state coordinators as well as representatives in the United States and China, Lagos Panorama reports.
Punch Online reported on Saturday that the organisation’s website identified Hon. Nwabueze George as “Executive Director, National Coordinator” and listed a Director of National Administration, three zonal directors, 20 state coordinators and two international representatives.
The development came after the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu, disclosed on Friday that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze, whom the commission described as the promoter of the alleged fake office.
The President also ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries — M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah — after the alleged office was uncovered.
The ICPC said the organisation had been allocated space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation without presidential authorisation.
The commission further alleged that the promoter had operated under multiple variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, George Nwabueze, George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
A Government-Looking Structure
On its website, Nwabueze was presented as the “Executive Director, National Coordinator.”
Other officials listed included Dr Bassey B. Unaowo as “Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary on Political and Economic Affairs, OSGF”; Dr Hajara Njidda Amoni as Director, National Administration; Mr Oladunjoye Musiliua as Zonal Director, South-West; Hafsat Sahabi Dange as Zonal Director, North; and Mrs Ugochi Akudo Nwosu as Zonal Director, South-East.
The website went further by claiming that the project operated under the OSGF and that its activities were overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs.
That claim is now at the centre of the controversy, following the ICPC’s assertion that the organisation was operating without presidential authorisation.
20 States on the Network
The purported state structure covered Katsina, Kaduna, Delta, Kebbi, Osun, Anambra, Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Ondo, Ogun, Sokoto, Abia, Zamfara, Niger, Kano, Taraba, Oyo, Bauchi and Kogi.
Among those listed were Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma, Hon. Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim, Hon. Dr Godwin Adolor, Hussaini Abdullahi, Esq., FSI, Hon. Olugbemi Adetola Adelowokan, Hon. Chiamaka Nnake, Hon. Osolafia Muhammed, PhD, Mrs Salome Audu Bidda, Hon. Orduen Andrew Ikon, Amb. Orioye G. Benedict, Hon. Engr. Kehinde Akintonide, FNSE, and Hon. Ibrahim Umar Aliyu.
Others included Hon. Mrs Nwosu Chinyere R., Hon. Ibrahim Bello Marafa, Haj. Zainab Mohammed, Hon. Abubakar Ahmad Bichi (Khalifa), Hon. Justin Aondoaseer Tyopuusu, Alhaji Bello Kolawole Ghaffar, FCA, Hon. Farouq Siyi and Hon. Olorukooba Bidemi.
Some of the names appeared to have connections with established political, government or community structures in their respective states.
In Taraba, for example, Tyopuusu has been identified in recent reports as a Special Assistant to Governor Agbu Kefas on Digital Economy, while also being listed as the state coordinator of the purported project.
However, being listed on the website does not, in itself, prove that any of the named coordinators knew that the organisation allegedly lacked government authorisation.
Phones Switched Off
Attempts by Lagos Panorama to obtain comments from the organisation were unsuccessful.
The three telephone numbers published on its website were switched off at the time of filing this report, while a message sent to the acclaimed national coordinator had not been answered.
Operations Extended Abroad
The organisation also claimed an international presence, listing Hon. Emmanuel Enemali Achema as “Country Rep./Coordinator, U.S.A.” and Hon. Ameh Enedugbojo Glory as “Country Rep./Coordinator, China.”
Its website portrayed the structure as part of a broad national and international operation focused on trade exhibitions, economic forums, promotion of Nigerian products and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Those claims are now under investigation following the ICPC’s intervention.
The case forms part of a wider probe into purported fictitious government bodies. The ICPC had previously raised concerns over the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.
The unfolding investigation is expected to shed further light on how the alleged structure was created, who authorised its activities and how it secured access to government premises.
