-Says he was deceived into hosting multi‑million‑naira South‑East trade fair;
—Tinubu suspends three permanent secretaries and orders arrest of syndicate’s alleged “DG”
—-Syndicate reportedly ran a global network with “ambassadors” in the US and China.
More startling revelations have emerged following the busting of a sophisticated syndicate operating a fake federal agency right inside the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
Breaking her silence on the controversy, the Secretary to the Anambra State Government (SSG), Ms. Chiamaka Nnake, has clarified her involvement with the “Made-in-Nigeria Office.” The organization was recently exposed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as a front for a massive fraudulent operation.
Nnake’s clarification comes on the heels of leaked documents and media reports linking her name and photograph to the activities of the illicit body, sparking concerns about the level of infiltration by the syndicate into state government apparatuses.
How the State Was Misled
In a detailed statement released to the press, the Anambra SSG defended her participation, stating that the state government acted in good faith based on seemingly legitimate federal communications.
According to Nnake, the Anambra State Government received an official letter from the purported “Made-in-Nigeria Office” in January 2026. The correspondence requested the state to nominate a focal person to coordinate regional trade development initiatives.
“Acting on what appeared to be a genuine request from a federal agency, Governor Chukwuma Soludo subsequently nominated me in February 2026 to serve as the state’s focal person,” Nnake explained.
She further revealed that the syndicate had established a highly organized network. Upon her nomination, she was added to a WhatsApp platform comprising nominated focal persons from all 36 states of the Federation. On this platform, various national developmental programs and activities were routinely discussed under the guise of official federal policy.
The South-East Trade Fair Plot
The scam took a more ambitious turn when the fake agency proposed that Anambra State host the “South-East Made-in-Nigeria Fair,” scheduled to take place from December 2 to 5, 2026.
Believing the initiative had the full backing of the Presidency, the Anambra State Government approved the proposal.
“An inaugural planning meeting was held about two weeks ago, featuring the active participation of the purported National Coordinator of the office,” Nnake stated. “Following this, we set up a state planning committee to begin preparations for the December fair.”
Nnake lamented that the state government was completely blindsided, operating under the assumption that the organization was a legitimate arm of the federal government until the ICPC’s public disclosure.
“Beyond these official interactions and engagements, which were done in my official capacity as SSG, I have no knowledge of, involvement in, or connection with any other activities, claims, or developments attributed to the said office,” she asserted, distancing herself and the Anambra State Government from the fraudulent syndicate.
The ICPC Crackdown and OSGF Infiltration
The scandal, which has sent shockwaves through the nation’s civil service, was blown open by the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN.
Briefing State House correspondents in Abuja, the ICPC boss detailed how the mastermind, identified as Adeyemi Matthew, successfully ran the fake “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” alongside the “Made-in-Nigeria Office.”
In a security breach that has embarrassed the administration, the syndicate managed to secure physical office space within the highly secured premises of the OSGF in Abuja. From this vantage point, they issued appointment letters bearing official letterheads and forged signatures to unsuspecting members of the public.
The ICPC investigation also revealed that the organization had expanded its reach beyond Nigeria’s borders, appointing “coordinators” across the 36 states and designating “ambassadors” to represent it in global economic hubs, including the United States and China.
Tinubu Wields the Big Stick
Reacting swiftly to the embarrassing security and administrative lapse, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the immediate suspension of three Permanent Secretaries whose offices were allegedly linked to the operations or facilitation of the fake agency.
The President has also directed the Inspector-General of Police and the ICPC to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of the self-styled Director-General of the agency and all key accomplices.
Sources within the anti-graft agency indicate that investigators are currently looking into how the syndicate bypassed stringent security protocols to operate within the SGF complex, and whether they received internal assistance from high-ranking bureaucrats.
Meanwhile, political analysts suggest that the incident exposes deep vulnerabilities within the civil service structure, calling for an urgent audit of all agencies and desks operating under the aegis of the OSGF.
