The National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, uncovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), reportedly structured its appointments to give the appearance of a nationally representative government agency.
The outfit, which ICPC said was operating illegally from premises allocated within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), appointed coordinators across different geopolitical zones and states.
The arrangement appeared designed to mirror Nigeria’s federal character principle by ensuring that its leadership and state-level appointments reflected the country’s ethnic and regional diversity.
ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed the discovery while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja on the Commission’s investigation into fictitious government structures and weaknesses within the public service. Aliyu said the fake office was uncovered during investigations into the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
According to him, the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office had been illegally allocated office space within the OSGF despite having no presidential authorisation. The ICPC chairman identified Prince George Buchi Nwabueze as the promoter of the outfit, saying investigators discovered that he operated under several variations of his name.
The names reportedly included George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Hon. George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze. A profile on the organisation’s website identified Hon. Nwabueze George as its Executive Director and National Coordinator.
A review of the organisation’s website showed a leadership structure covering several geopolitical zones and states.
At the national level, Dr Bassey B. Unaowo was listed as Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary on Political and Economic Affairs in the OSGF, while Dr Hajara Njidda Amoni was identified as Director of National Administration.
Three zonal directors were also listed, including Oladunjoye Musiliua for the South-West, Barr. Hafsat Sahabi Dange for the North and Mrs Ugochi Akudo Nwosu for the South-East. The structure extended to state coordinators.
In the North-West, listed coordinators included Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma for Katsina, Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim for Kaduna, Hussaini Abdullahi for Kebbi, Ibrahim Bello Marafa for Zamfara and Ibrahim Umar Aliyu for Sokoto.
The North-Central zone included coordinators for Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger, Benue and Kogi, while Hon. Farouq Siyi was listed for Bauchi in the North-East. Several officials were also listed across the South-East, South-West and South-South regions.
The organisation further maintained social media accounts under the identity “@pmainpro” on platforms including Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn. According to ICPC, however, the elaborate national structure did not have the legal foundation of a genuine government agency.
Following the ICPC briefing, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate arrest of Nwabueze. The President also approved the suspension of three Permanent Secretaries pending the outcome of investigations. They are M.S. Danjuma, Engr Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
Aliyu said the Commission had commenced engagements with officials of the OSGF to establish how the purported agency obtained office accommodation within the government complex. He added that investigators would continue examining the roles allegedly played by suspended officials and other individuals connected with the organisation.
“I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigations accordingly,” Aliyu said.
The investigation forms part of a broader effort by the anti-corruption agency to uncover fictitious government structures and expose weaknesses that allow unauthorised individuals or organisations to operate within official government establishments.
