By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE ARREST of a businessman and the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries have been ordered by President Bola Tinubu after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) uncovered an alleged unauthorised government office operating within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the ICPC chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, disclosed the development on Friday after briefing the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Aliyu identified the alleged promoter as Nwabueze Buchi George, also known as George Nathan Nwabueze, George Nwabueze and Prince George Buchi Nwabueze.
The organisation, known as the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, allegedly presented itself as a government-backed initiative operating under the OSGF.
According to the ICPC chairman, the office had been allocated space within the OSGF complex despite having no presidential authorisation to operate as a government entity.
Tinubu subsequently ordered George’s immediate arrest while directing the suspension of three permanent secretaries — M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah — as the commission investigates the circumstances surrounding the organisation.
Aliyu said the discovery was made during a wider investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and other procedural weaknesses within government.
The ICPC found that the purported Made in Nigeria office had established what appeared to be a nationwide administrative structure, with an executive director/national coordinator, zonal directors, state coordinators and representatives in the United States and China.
Its website listed George as “Executive-Director, National Coordinator” and claimed the project operated under the OSGF and was overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs.
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 Mrs Ugochi Akudo Nwosu as zonal director, South-East.
The organisation also claimed to have coordinators across 20 states and representatives in the US and China.
Among those listed as state coordinators were Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma for Katsina, Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim for Kaduna, Dr Godwin Adolor for Delta, Hussaini Abdullahi for Kebbi, Olugbemi Adetola Adelowokan for Osun, Chiamaka Nnake for Anambra, Osolafia Muhammed for Nasarawa and Salome Audu Bidda for Plateau.
Others included Orduen Andrew Ikon for Benue, Orioye G. Benedict for Ondo, Kehinde Akintonide for Ogun, Ibrahim Umar Aliyu for Sokoto, 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.
The ICPC said its findings did not establish that everyone listed as a coordinator knew the organisation allegedly lacked government approval.
The organisation also claimed to have representatives outside Nigeria, naming Emmanuel Enemali Achema as country representative/coordinator for the US and Ameh Enedugbojo Glory for China.
George has since shared an appointment letter which he said was issued by the OSGF. The document, dated October 3, 2025, bears the OSGF letterhead and was signed by Gagare, designated as permanent secretary at the Political and Economic Affairs Office.
The letter, titled “Appointment as National Coordinator and Executive Director Made in Nigeria Project Office”, purportedly appointed George to a five-year tenure beginning in July 2025, renewable thereafter.
It assigned him responsibility for supervising and developing programmes, projects and policies, as well as overseeing regional and state coordinators. It also stated that the project would use temporary office space at Room B53, Ground Floor, within the OSGF complex.
Several state governments also received letters from George requesting nominations for state coordinators.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that the ICPC said the alleged organisation claimed to promote Nigerian products through trade exhibitions, economic forums and other initiatives supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.
Attempts to contact the organisation’s management were unsuccessful. Telephone numbers published on its website were switched off, while messages sent to George had not received a response.
The latest discovery is part of the ICPC’s wider investigation into alleged fictitious government bodies operating under purported official identities.
The commission had previously identified the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership as other alleged fictitious bodies.
The investigation into the latest case is continuing as the ICPC seeks to establish how the organisation secured space within the OSGF complex and presented itself as an authorised government structure.
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