Meet head of Nigeria’s new ‘fake’ agency, 20 state coordinators, reps in China, US

The alleged fake National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office had a structure spanning several states and two foreign countries, with an acclaimed national coordinator, zonal directors, state coordinators and representatives in China and the United States, PUNCH Online reports.

A check by our correspondent on Saturday found that the office’s website listed Hon. Nwabueze George 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.

Recall that 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, identified by the commission 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 — following the discovery of the office, which the ICPC said it had been allocated space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation without presidential authorisation.

The ICPC said the promoter was also 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.

Nwabueze and Zonal directors

The website listed Nwabueze as the “Executive Director, National Coordinator.”

It 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.

The website also claimed that the project operated under the OSGF. Its framework page described the project as being overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, in the OSGF.

However, this claimed government connection is significant in light of the ICPC’s finding that the office was operating without presidential authorisation.

20 state coordinators

The website listed the following as state coordinators:

1. Katsina: Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma
2. Kaduna: Hon. Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim
3. Delta: Hon. Dr Godwin Adolor
4. Kebbi: Hussaini Abdullahi, Esq., FSI
5. Osun: Hon. Olugbemi Adetola Adelowokan
6. Anambra: Hon. Chiamaka Nnake
7. Nasarawa: Hon. Osolafia Muhammed, PhD
8. Plateau: Mrs Salome Audu Bidda
9. Benue: Hon. Orduen Andrew Ikon
10. Ondo: Amb. Orioye G. Benedict
11. Ogun: Hon. Engr. Kehinde Akintonide, FNSE
12. Sokoto: Hon. Ibrahim Umar Aliyu
13. Abia: Hon. Mrs Nwosu Chinyere R.
14. Zamfara: Hon. Ibrahim Bello Marafa
15. Niger: Haj. Zainab Mohammed
16. Kano: Hon. Abubakar Ahmad Bichi (Khalifa)
17. Taraba: Hon. Justin Aondoaseer Tyopuusu
18. Oyo: Alhaji Bello Kolawole Ghaffar, FCA
19. Bauchi: Hon. Farouq Siyi
20. Kogi: Hon. Olorukooba Bidemi

PUNCH Online’s check 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.

For instance, Ibrahim Almustapha Aliyu, listed on the website as the Sokoto coordinator, was a member of the House of Representatives for Wurno/Rabah.

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Mrs Nnake is the Secretary to the Anambra State Government.

In Taraba, Tyopuusu has also been identified in recent reports as a Special Assistant to Governor Agbu Kefas on Digital Economy, while serving as the state coordinator of the Made in Nigeria Special Project.

PUNCH Online has not independent confirm their involvement in the agency.

Their inclusion on the website does not, by itself, establish that they were aware that the organisation had allegedly lacked government authorisation.

Efforts made so far to reach the management of the acclaimed agency is abortive as of the time of filing the report as all three phone numbers on its website are switched off. Message sent to the acclaimed national cordinator by our correspondent has not been replied.

Reps in US, China

The website also 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.

The office’s website described its activities as including trade exhibitions, economic forums, promotion of Nigerian products and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, claim ICPC disputed.

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.