An aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ondo State House of Assembly has been listed as the state coordinator of a purported Federal Government agency currently under investigation by the Nigerian authorities.
The aspirant, Ambassador Orioye G. Benedict, is identified on elements linked to the organisation as the “State Coordinator” of the National Brand Development and Made in Nigeria Project Office in Ondo State.
Orioye is also seeking to represent Ilaje Constituency I in the Ondo State House of Assembly, according to a campaign flyer seen by SaharaReporters.
The flyer, bearing the inscription “Agbayí Dírórún” and “Thank You,” identifies him as “Hon. Orioye Benedict Gbayisemore, Candidate, Ondo State House of Assembly, Ilaje Constituency 1.”
The ICPC had disclosed that President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze, identified by the commission as the promoter of the purported agency, as well as the suspension of three permanent secretaries following the discovery of the office.
The suspended officials are M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
The purported agency, which has operated under the name National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, presented itself as a nationwide government-backed initiative and maintained an elaborate organisational structure.
Its website listed Nwabueze as “Executive Director, National Coordinator” and named officials for national administration, geopolitical zones, states and international representation.
Orioye was among 20 individuals listed as state coordinators across Nigeria.
Other persons listed included coordinators for Katsina, Kaduna, Delta, Kebbi, Osun, Anambra, Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Ogun, Sokoto, Abia, Zamfara, Niger, Kano, Taraba, Oyo, Bauchi and Kogi states.
The organisation also claimed to have representatives in the United States and China.
The extensive structure had reportedly helped give the organisation the appearance of a formal government institution, despite the ICPC’s finding that the office allegedly operated without presidential authorisation.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the purported agency claimed to operate under the OSGF and stated on its website that it was overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, in the OSGF.
The ICPC investigation has now raised questions over how the organisation secured access to government premises, operated a nationwide structure and appointed individuals as state coordinators despite the alleged absence of presidential approval.
The inclusion of an active political aspirant among the listed state coordinators is also expected to raise further questions about the activities of the organisation and the roles played by individuals appointed to its purported state offices.
It remains unclear from the available information whether Orioye had any knowledge of the alleged lack of government authorisation when he was listed as the Ondo State coordinator, or the nature of activities he carried out under the organisation.
The ICPC is expected to establish the extent of the activities of the purported agency, how it obtained access to the OSGF premises, the identities and roles of those involved and whether government resources, facilities or privileges were improperly used.
