The National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office has become the center of a dispute involving internal friction at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), a high-profile investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and ongoing legal proceedings.

Origins of the Dispute Tensions began following an internal disagreement between the project's promoter, George Nwabueze, and several directors within the OSGF. Sources within the office claim that the directors filed a petition with the ICPC, alleging that Nwabueze was operating an unauthorized agency. Proponents of the project maintain that it is a legitimate public-private special initiative operating under the OSGF since 2010, rather than a fake government agency, and argue that the ICPC was misled by officials with personal grievances.

Promoter’s Response and Legal Action Rejecting the allegations of operating a fraudulent entity, Nwabueze stated that the project functions under Executive Orders 003 and 005 and possesses official supervisory backing from the OSGF's Political and Economic Affairs Office. He alleged that certain serving and retired OSGF officials deliberately sabotaged the initiative by suppressing official project files. Furthermore, Nwabueze noted that he filed Suit No. CV/2634/26 at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja to prevent administrative eviction, emphasizing that the matter remains sub judice.

Regulatory and Executive Actions The controversy escalated when the ICPC announced that it uncovered an alleged fake federal agency operating within the OSGF premises. Following a briefing with the President, the ICPC disclosed that directives were issued for Nwabueze’s arrest and the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries—MS Danjuma, Nandungu Gagare, and Richard Pheelangwa. However, sources indicated that no formal arrest had been executed.

Presidency and Legislative Stance The Presidency urged the public to await the final conclusions of the investigation, noting that the ICPC has only submitted a preliminary report and is expected to provide comprehensive recommendations to strengthen institutional vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives stated that it would not launch a parallel inquiry, noting that the legislature intends to allow the ICPC to complete its statutory investigation without interference.