THE alleged fake National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office operated an extensive structure spanning at least 20 states and two foreign countries, with an acclaimed national coordinator, zonal directors, state coordinators and representatives in the United States and China, findings by this newspaper have shown.
News Point Nigeria reports that a check of the office’s website on Saturday showed a network comprising Hon. Nwabueze George, listed as its “Executive Director, National Coordinator”, alongside a Director of National Administration, three Zonal Directors, 20 State Coordinators and representatives for the United States and China.
The development follows the disclosure by the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu, on Friday that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze, identified by the commission as “the promoter” of the alleged fake office.
President Tinubu also ordered the immediate suspension of three Permanent Secretaries, M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah following the discovery of the office, which the ICPC said had been allocated space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation without presidential authorisation.
The ICPC further said the promoter was found to have operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, George Nwabueze, George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
While the commission identified the promoter as George Nwabueze, the office’s website listed Nwabueze as the “Executive Director, National Coordinator.”
The website also listed 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.
It also claimed that the project operated under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, with its framework page describing the project as being overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, in the OSGF.
The claimed government connection is, however, significant in light of the ICPC’s finding that the office was allegedly operating without presidential authorisation.
A further check of the website showed that the following individuals were listed 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
The newspaper’s checks also found indications that some of those listed had previously held public positions or had links to established political, governmental or community structures in their respective states.
In Taraba State, 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, this newspaper has not independently confirmed the involvement of the individuals listed on the website in the operations of the agency.
Their inclusion on the website also does not, by itself, establish that they were aware that the organisation allegedly lacked government authorisation.
Efforts to reach the management of the acclaimed agency were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, as all three phone numbers listed on its website were switched off. A message sent by the correspondent to the acclaimed National Coordinator had also not been replied to.
The website further listed Hon. Emmanuel Enemali Achema as “Country Rep./Coordinator, U.S.A.” and Hon. Ameh Enedugbojo Glory as “Country Rep./Coordinator, China.”
The claimed international structure was presented alongside the state and zonal network as part of the organisation’s purported nationwide and international operations.
According to the website, the office’s activities included trade exhibitions, economic forums, the promotion of Nigerian products and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, claims which the ICPC has disputed.
The development is the latest in an ongoing investigation into purported 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.
