Nwabueze Buchi George, coordinator of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, has released a purported appointment letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), days after President Bola Tinubu ordered his arrest. The president’s directive followed an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into an alleged fake government agency operating within the SGF’s premises. Tinubu also ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries.
George’s letter, dated October 3, 2025, and bearing the SGF letterhead, states that he was appointed national coordinator and executive director of the Made in Nigeria Project Office for a five-year renewable tenure. The letter assigns him responsibility for coordinating programmes and promoting Nigerian products. However, authorities are investigating whether the office and appointment were legitimate.
Releasing the letter is a defiant move by George, who is essentially arguing that his appointment was legitimate. The letter, if genuine, would undermine the government’s case against him. The ICPC has already uncovered a fake agency, and the involvement of senior public servants suggests that the fraud may be more widespread than initially thought. The investigation tests the government’s commitment to accountability. The public will be watching to see whether the investigation leads to prosecutions or just more suspensions.
This echoes the 2012 pension fraud scandal, which also exposed systemic weaknesses in the government’s financial controls. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: fake entities embedded in government systems.
The winners: the ICPC, which is continuing its investigation; and the Nigerian public, who are demanding accountability. The losers: the suspended permanent secretaries and the Nigerian government, which faces another credibility crisis.
Bottom Line: The suspect in the fake agency scandal has released an alleged appointment letter. The investigation continues. The question is whether the letter is genuine or another piece of the fraud.