20 States, Two Countries: Inside Nigeria’s Alleged Fake Agency

The alleged fake National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office reportedly operated an extensive structure across several Nigerian states and two foreign countries, with a national coordinator, zonal directors, state coordinators and representatives in China and the United States, PUNCH Online reports.
A check by our correspondent on Saturday showed that the office’s website listed Hon. Nwabueze George as its “Executive Director, National Coordinator.” The website also named a director of national administration, three zonal directors, 20 state coordinators and representatives for the United States and China.
The development followed the disclosure by the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu, that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze, whom the commission identified 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 — after the discovery of the office. According to the ICPC, the office 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 stated that 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.
The website listed Nwabueze as the “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; 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 also claimed that the project operated under the OSGF, while its framework page stated that it was overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, in the OSGF. However, the claim of government affiliation is significant in view of the ICPC’s finding that the office was operating without presidential authorisation.
The website listed 20 state coordinators: Katsina — Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma; Kaduna — Hon. Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim; Delta — Hon. Dr Godwin Adolor; Kebbi — Hussaini Abdullahi, Esq., FSIO; 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; and Kogi — Hon. Olorukooba Bidemi.
PUNCH Online’s check also found indications that some individuals listed had previously held public positions or had links to established political, governmental or community structures in their respective states.
In Taraba, 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, PUNCH Online stated that it had not independently confirmed their involvement in the agency. Their inclusion on the website, it added, 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 the 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 received a response.
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 office’s website, its activities included trade exhibitions, economic forums, promotion of Nigerian products and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. The ICPC, however, disputed the claims.
The development is the latest in an 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.