Alleged Fake Made-in-Nigeria Office Uncovered With Network Across States, US and China

Fresh details have emerged about the alleged fake National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, revealing an extensive structure that reportedly spread across several states in Nigeria and extended to two foreign countries.

According to findings by PUNCH Online, the office maintained what appeared to be a nationwide and international network, complete with an acclaimed national coordinator, zonal directors, state coordinators and representatives in the United States and China.

A check of the office’s website on Saturday showed that Hon. Nwabueze George was listed as the Executive Director and National Coordinator of the organisation. The website also displayed a director of national administration, three zonal directors, 20 state coordinators and representatives said to be operating from the United States and China.

The revelations come amid a major investigation into the activities of the office, which has now been described by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission as an alleged fake operation.

The Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Aliyu, disclosed on Friday that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze, whom the commission identified as the promoter of the alleged fake office.

The President also directed the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries, namely, M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah, following the discovery of the controversial 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.

Investigators also discovered that the promoter allegedly operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, George Nwabueze, George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.

Further checks of the organisation’s website showed a detailed leadership hierarchy.

Nwabueze was listed as the Executive Director and National Coordinator, while Dr Bassey B. Unaowo was named as Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary on Political and Economic Affairs, OSGF.

Others listed on the website included Dr Hajara Njidda Amoni as Director of National Administration; Mr Oladunjoye Musiliua as Zonal Director for the South-West; Hafsat Sahabi Dange as Zonal Director for the North; and Mrs Ugochi Akudo Nwosu as Zonal Director for the South-East.

The website also claimed that the project operated under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Its framework page reportedly indicated that the project was overseen by the Permanent Secretary in charge of Political and Economic Affairs in the OSGF.

However, the claimed connection to the Federal Government has become a major point of concern following the ICPC’s finding that the office was allegedly operating without presidential authorisation.

The website further listed coordinators in 20 states across the country, highlighting the scale of the alleged network.

The names included Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma for Katsina; Hon. Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim for Kaduna; Hon. Dr Godwin Adolor for Delta; Hussaini Abdullahi, Esq., FSI, for Kebbi; Hon. Olugbemi Adetola Adelowokan for Osun; and Hon. Chiamaka Nnake for Anambra.

Others were Hon. Osolafia Muhammed, PhD, for Nasarawa; Mrs Salome Audu Bidda for Plateau; Hon. Orduen Andrew Ikon for Benue; Amb. Orioye G. Benedict for Ondo; Hon. Engr. Kehinde Akintonide, FNSE, for Ogun; and Hon. Ibrahim Umar Aliyu for Sokoto.

Also listed were Hon. Mrs Nwosu Chinyere R. for Abia; Hon. Ibrahim Bello Marafa for Zamfara; Haj. Zainab Mohammed for Niger; Hon. Abubakar Ahmad Bichi, also known as Khalifa, for Kano; Hon. Justin Aondoaseer Tyopuusu for Taraba; Alhaji Bello Kolawole Ghaffar, FCA, for Oyo; Hon. Farouq Siyi for Bauchi; and Hon. Olorukooba Bidemi for Kogi.

PUNCH Online’s findings further indicated that some of the individuals listed as coordinators had previously occupied public positions or maintained links with established political, government and community structures in their respective states.

With representatives reportedly listed in both China and the United States and a network of coordinators spread across 20 Nigerian states, the alleged operation appears to have projected a far-reaching structure before the controversy surrounding its authorisation came to light.

The unfolding investigation is expected to shed more light on how the office allegedly secured space within the OSGF premises, the extent of its operations and the roles, if any, played by those connect ed to the structure.

Source: PUNCH News