The alleged fake National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office had an extensive structure comprising a national coordinator, zonal directors, state coordinators and representatives in China and the United States, PUNCH Online reports.
A check on Saturday showed that the organisation’s website identified Hon. Nwabueze George as its “Executive Director, National Coordinator.” It also listed a Director of National Administration, three zonal directors, 20 state coordinators and country representatives for the US and China.
The development comes after the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu, disclosed on Friday that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze, whom the commission described as the promoter of the alleged fake office.
Tinubu also ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries — M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah — after the ICPC discovered that the office had been allocated space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation without presidential authorisation.
According to the ICPC, the promoter operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, George Nwabueze, George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
Nwabueze, zonal directors
The organisation’s website listed Nwabueze as “Executive Director, National Coordinator.”
It also named 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; 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 further claimed that the project operated under the OSGF, with its framework describing the initiative as being overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, in the OSGF.
However, the claimed government affiliation is significant in light of the ICPC’s allegation that the organisation operated without presidential authorisation.
20 state coordinators
The website listed the following as state coordinators:
- Katsina: Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma
- Kaduna: Hon. Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim
- Delta: Hon. Dr Godwin Adolor
- Kebbi: Hussaini Abdullahi, Esq., FSI
- Osun: Hon. Olugbemi Adetola Adelowokan
- Anambra: Hon. Chiamaka Nnake
- Nasarawa: Hon. Osolafia Muhammed, PhD
- Plateau: Mrs Salome Audu Bidda
- Benue: Hon. Orduen Andrew Ikon
- Ondo: Amb. Orioye G. Benedict
- Ogun: Hon. Engr. Kehinde Akintonide, FNSE
- Sokoto: Hon. Ibrahim Umar Aliyu
- Abia: Hon. Mrs Nwosu Chinyere R.
- Zamfara: Hon. Ibrahim Bello Marafa
- Niger: Haj. Zainab Mohammed
- Kano: Hon. Abubakar Ahmad Bichi (Khalifa)
- Taraba: Hon. Justin Aondoaseer Tyopuusu
- Oyo: Alhaji Bello Kolawole Ghaffar, FCA
- Bauchi: Hon. Farouq Siyi
- Kogi: Hon. Olorukooba Bidemi
PUNCH Online checks also indicated that some of those listed had previously held public positions or maintained links with political, governmental or community structures in their respective states.
In Taraba, for instance, Tyopuusu has been identified in recent reports as a Special Assistant to Governor Agbu Kefas on Digital Economy while also serving as the state coordinator of the Made in Nigeria Special Project.
However, the inclusion of the individuals on the website does not, on its own, establish that they knew the organisation allegedly lacked government authorisation.
Efforts to reach the management of the organisation were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. All three telephone numbers published on its website were switched off, while a message sent to the purported national coordinator by our correspondent had not received a response.
Representatives in US, China
The website also identified Hon. Emmanuel Enemali Achema as “Country Rep./Coordinator, U.S.A.” and Hon. Ameh Enedugbojo Glory as “Country Rep./Coordinator, China.”
The purported international structure was presented alongside the state and zonal network as part of the organisation’s claimed nationwide and international operations.
The website described the office’s activities as including trade exhibitions, economic forums, promotion of Nigerian products and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
However, the ICPC has disputed the organisation’s claimed status as a government-backed entity.
The development is the latest in an ongoing investigation into alleged fictitious government bodies.
The ICPC had previously identified the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and two other alleged fictitious bodies — the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.
