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The alleged fake National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office claimed it had Federal Executive Council approval dating back to 2017, nine years before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission uncovered it.
The office, which was domiciled in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, also created a nationwide network of appointments covering geopolitical zones and states.
ICPC Chairman Dr Musa Aliyu said the commission uncovered the alleged fake office during its investigation into the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and other weaknesses in the public service.
“Upon further briefing by ICPC to Mr President on the ongoing investigations into the fake PFIPC and procedural weaknesses in the public service, the ICPC has uncovered another fake agency and office operating under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, which has been illegally allocated office space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” Aliyu said.
He identified the promoter as George Nwabueze, alleging that he operated under several variations of the name with the suspected collaboration of senior public servants in the OSGF.
“The promoter Nwabueze was discovered to also operate under four other variations of his name: George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Hon. George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze,” Aliyu said.
A profile on the organisation’s website identified Nwabueze George as its “Executive Director, National Coordinator”, while the website presented the outfit as a federal agency responsible for promoting Nigerian brands and local manufacturing.
The website claimed that the Federal Executive Council had approved a “National Campaign to Sensitize Nigerians on the Patronage of Made-in-Nigeria Products” at a February 1, 2017, meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
It also listed the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as the implementing ministry and cited a purported “Bill for an Act to Establish the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Promotion Commission and for Related Matters”.
Beyond its claims of federal approval, the alleged agency had established a leadership structure spanning the geopolitical zones and several states.
At the national level, it listed Dr Bassey B. Unaowo as Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary on Political and Economic Affairs in the OSGF, Dr Hajara Njidda Amoni as Director, National Administration, and Nwabueze as part of the leadership.
It also named zonal directors for the South-West, North and South-East, alongside state coordinators across the North-West, North-Central, North-East, South-South, South-East and South-West.
The state officials were designated “State Coordinator, National Brand Development and Made in Nigeria Project Office”, with profiles carrying an official-looking green and white insignia bearing the inscription “National Brands Development, The Presidency, Made in Nigeria.”
The outfit also maintained social media accounts under the handle “@pmainpro” on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.
However, the ICPC said its findings showed that the office had no presidential authorisation and was operating contrary to extant laws.
The discovery followed the earlier investigation into the alleged fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, whose self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is facing prosecution for alleged forgery and impersonation.
Following the ICPC briefing, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and suspended three Permanent Secretaries M.S. Danjuma, Engr Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah pending investigations.
Aliyu said the commission had engaged officials of the OSGF to establish how the alleged fictitious office obtained accommodation within the Secretariat and would investigate the roles of the suspended officials and others connected with the network.
“I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigations accordingly,” Aliyu said.
