Fresh details have emerged over the controversial activities of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission alleged that the organisation was operating as an unauthorised government office despite maintaining an elaborate national and international structure.
The purported agency, allegedly promoted by Hon. George Nwabueze, reportedly operated with a national coordinator, zonal directors, 20 state coordinators and representatives in the United States and China.
Its website presented the organisation as a structured operation with officials assigned to national administration, geopolitical zones, states and international representation.
The structure has raised questions about how an organisation allegedly lacking presidential authorisation was able to establish a nationwide network and operate from premises within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The controversy intensified after ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the immediate arrest of Nwabueze, whom the commission identified as the promoter of the alleged fake government 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 within the OSGF complex.
According to the ICPC, the office had been allocated space within the OSGF premises without presidential authorisation.
A check of the organisation’s website showed Nwabueze listed as “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 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 organisation’s framework page reportedly stated that the project was overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, in the OSGF.
That claim has become a major point of interest following the ICPC’s assertion that the office was operating without presidential approval.
The organisation’s website also published the names of 20 individuals it identified as state coordinators.
They included Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma for Katsina; Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim for Kaduna; Godwin Adolor for Delta; Hussaini Abdullahi for Kebbi; Olugbemi Adetola Adelowokan for Osun; and Chiamaka Nnake for Anambra.
Others listed were Osolafia Muhammed for Nasarawa; Salome Audu Bidda for Plateau; Orduen Andrew Ikon for Benue; Orioye G. Benedict for Ondo; Kehinde Akintonide for Ogun; and Ibrahim Umar Aliyu for Sokoto.
The list further included Nwosu Chinyere R. for Abia; Ibrahim Bello Marafa for Zamfara; Zainab Mohammed for Niger; Abubakar Ahmad Bichi for Kano; Justin Aondoaseer Tyopuusu for Taraba; Bello Kolawole Ghaffar for Oyo; Farouq Siyi for Bauchi; and Olorukooba Bidemi for Kogi.
Checks by PUNCH, whose findings formed part of the background to the report, indicated that some individuals listed had previously occupied public positions or had links with political, governmental or community structures in their respective states.
In Taraba, for instance, Tyopuusu has reportedly 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 purported Made in Nigeria Special Project.
Beyond Nigeria, the organisation reportedly claimed to have representatives in the United States and China, giving it an international footprint.
The combination of a national coordinator, zonal directors, 20 state coordinators and foreign representatives gave the organisation the appearance of a formally established government-backed operation.
However, the ICPC’s allegation that the office lacked presidential authorisation has now placed the entire structure under scrutiny.
The commission also said Nwabueze had operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, George Nwabueze, George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
The investigation is expected to establish how the organisation secured access to the OSGF premises, who authorised or facilitated its presence there, the extent of its activities and whether government facilities, resources or privileges were improperly used.
Investigators may also determine whether the listed officials, state coordinators, zonal directors and foreign representatives were operating under any legitimate government mandate.
The case has raised broader questions about administrative oversight within the Federal Government and how an organisation allegedly lacking presidential approval could establish such an extensive structure while publicly presenting itself as a government initiative.
The central question now is how an alleged unauthorised office was able to build a 20-state network, claim OSGF backing and establish representatives in the United States and China while operating from within a Federal Government complex.
The outcome of the ICPC investigation could determine whether the controversy was limited to an unauthorised office or whether it points to wider failures in government administrative controls.