A lawyer and entrepreneur, Hafsat Dange, has denied any involvement in the operations of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office currently under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Dange issued the clarification on Tuesday after her name and photographs were linked on social media to the organisation, which has come under scrutiny following allegations that it operated without proper government authorisation.
She said her only connection with the project was a nomination she received in 2025 to serve as its coordinator in Sokoto State, adding that she never assumed the position or acted as an official of the Federal Government.
According to Dange, the nomination letter was also sent to the Sokoto State Governor, prompting her to seek clarification on the appropriate protocol before taking any step.
“At the subsequent inauguration, I was informed that the Sokoto State Government did not recognise my nomination,” she said.
Dange said she was later offered another national position connected to the project but declined it.
She further denied receiving money from members of the public or handling public funds on behalf of the organisation.
“For clarity, I did not collect money from members of the public, receive or administer public funds, enter into contracts on behalf of the project, issue governmental licences or approvals, recruit personnel, or otherwise exercise governmental or operational authority on its behalf,” she said.
The lawyer said the circulation of her photographs had created a misleading impression that she participated in the activities now being investigated by the ICPC.
She urged the media and members of the public to distinguish between being nominated for a position and actually participating in the operations of an organisation alleged to be unauthorised.
The controversy surrounding the project intensified after President Bola Tinubu ordered the arrest of its National Coordinator, Nwabueze George, and directed the suspension of three permanent secretaries following revelations surrounding the organisation.
George later produced an appointment letter which he claimed was issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Reports also indicated that letters had been sent to several state governments asking them to nominate coordinators for the project.
Dange maintained that she had no operational role in the organisation and said her professional career had been built around corporate affairs, entrepreneurship, women’s economic empowerment, mentorship and public service.
“My record of work and service speaks for itself, and I remain committed to continuing that work,” she said.
