The alleged fake National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office operated with a structure spanning 20 Nigerian states and representatives in the United States and China, with George Buchi Nwabueze listed as its national coordinator.
The development follows the discovery of the organisation operating from office space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation without presidential authorisation.
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed on Friday that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the immediate arrest of Nwabueze, whom the commission identified as the alleged promoter of the office.
Tinubu also ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries — M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah — as investigations continue into how the organisation secured space within the OSGF complex.
The ICPC said Nwabueze operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan 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 of National Administration; Oladunjoye Musiliua as Zonal Director, South-West; Hafsat Sahabi Dange as Zonal Director, North; and Ugochi Akudo Nwosu as Zonal Director, South-East.
The website claimed the project operated under the OSGF and was overseen by the Permanent Secretary responsible for Political and Economic Affairs.
That claim has come under scrutiny following the ICPC’s finding that the office was operating without presidential authorisation.
20 state coordinators
The website listed coordinators for 20 states:
Katsina: Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma
Kaduna: Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim
Delta: Dr Godwin Adolor
Kebbi: Hussaini Abdullahi
Osun: Olugbemi Adetola Adelowokan
Anambra: Chiamaka Nnake
Nasarawa: Osolafia Muhammed
Plateau: Salome Audu Bidda
Benue: Orduen Andrew Ikon
Ondo: Orioye G. Benedict
Ogun: Kehinde Akintonide
Sokoto: Ibrahim Umar Aliyu
Abia: Nwosu Chinyere R.
Zamfara: Ibrahim Bello Marafa
Niger: Zainab Mohammed
Kano: Abubakar Ahmad Bichi
Taraba: Justin Aondoaseer Tyopuusu
Oyo: Bello Kolawole Ghaffar
Bauchi: Farouq Siyi
Kogi: Olorukooba Bidemi
The appearance of the names on the website does not, by itself, establish that the individuals were aware the organisation allegedly lacked government authorisation.
In Taraba, Tyopuusu has previously been identified as a Special Assistant to Governor Agbu Kefas on Digital Economy while also serving as state coordinator of the Made in Nigeria project.
Reps in US, China
The organisation also claimed an international presence, listing Emmanuel Enemali Achema as its Country Representative/Coordinator for the United States and Ameh Enedugbojo Glory in the same capacity for China.
Its website described activities including trade exhibitions, economic forums, promotion of Nigerian products and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
However, the ICPC has described the organisation as an alleged fictitious government body.
The discovery forms part of a wider investigation into fictitious or unauthorised government entities. The commission had previously investigated the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and other bodies it described as fictitious.
Efforts to reach the organisation through the telephone numbers published on its website were unsuccessful, while messages sent to Nwabueze had not received a response as of the time of reporting.
The latest development is expected to intensify scrutiny of internal controls within the federal civil service, particularly how an organisation allegedly lacking presidential approval obtained access to government premises and developed a nationwide structure.
