The alleged fictitious National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office operated an elaborate structure comprising a purported national coordinator, three zonal directors, 20 state coordinators and representatives in the United States and China, findings have revealed.
A review of the organisation’s website showed that Hon. Nwabueze George was listed as its “Executive Director, National Coordinator,” alongside officials overseeing its claimed national and international operations.
The development comes after the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu 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.
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 organisation.
According to the ICPC, the purported agency had been allocated office space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) without presidential approval.
The development has raised questions over how the organisation was able to establish an elaborate structure and operate from government premises despite being described by authorities as fictitious
