The head of the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, George Buchi Nwabueze, has rejected the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission’s claim that he operated an unauthorised federal government agency.
Nwabueze, who responded to the allegation on Saturday, said the organisation was a project office attached to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and had existed for several years.
The ICPC had alleged that the outfit was fictitious and announced that President Bola Tinubu had directed Nwabueze’s arrest over his alleged involvement in running and promoting it.
According to the anti-graft agency, investigations into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council exposed the project office, which it claimed had been given space within the OSGF without the required presidential approval.
But Nwabueze disputed the allegation, insisting that the initiative had a longstanding connection with the SGF’s office.
“Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office is a project office in the OSGF. We don’t know where ‘fake agency’ comes from. A programme that has been in the SGF’s office since July 16, 2010, was just discovered yesterday. After 16 years; Nigeria is a funny country,” he said.
To support his position, Nwabueze posted on LinkedIn an appointment letter dated October 3, 2025, which he said was issued by the OSGF.
The document, signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Political and Economic Affairs Office, Nadungu Gagare, conveyed his appointment as National Coordinator/Executive Director of the Made-in-Nigeria Project Office.
The letter indicated that his appointment commenced in July 2025 for a five-year period, subject to renewal, while outlining duties ranging from coordinating programmes and projects to overseeing state and regional coordinators and promoting Nigerian-made goods through exhibitions and economic events.
Another document released by Nwabueze showed that the project office had previously applied to the SGF for recognition as a Special Project.
Dated April 17, 2025, the proposal argued that granting the initiative special status would improve its ability to promote local products, attract investment, support employment and encourage domestic manufacturing.
It also stated that the programme was designed to help reduce reliance on imports, conserve foreign exchange and strengthen the non-oil sector of the economy.
However, ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN, maintained that the organisation was one of the questionable structures uncovered during the commission’s investigation.
Aliyu alleged that Nwabueze promoted the outfit with the support of some senior OSGF officials and operated under different versions of his name.
Evidence published by the organisation, however, showed that it had conducted activities involving public officials, including Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule. A report of one such engagement quoted the governor as saying his administration had incorporated the Made-in-Nigeria initiative into the state’s 2026 budget.
The organisation’s online platform also identified Nwabueze as its Executive Director/National Coordinator and displayed a network of national, zonal and state coordinators.
Amid the conflicting claims, a source within the OSGF said the office had been shut for several months and was not functioning as a conventional government agency.
“It was not operating as an agency, but I know it was under investigation. The office was shut months ago,” the source said.
The development has left unresolved questions about the project’s official status, its authority to operate within the OSGF and the circumstances surrounding Nwabueze’s appointment.
The OSGF spokesman, Christopher Ugwuegbulam, requested a formal letter before commenting on the matter, while attempts to reach the ICPC spokesman, John Odey, were unsuccessful.
Police sources also disclosed that the force had not received formal communication on the matter and would await an official briefing before commencing any manhunt or other action.
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