The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a $1.4 million fraudulent syndicate, led by Mr. Ikoro Mang Ifendu, who impersonated the agency’s officials to scam foreign companies using fake regulatory documents.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye while addressing newsmen on Friday, disclosed that Ifendu, 52, from Abia State was arrested on February 7, 2025, at Ogborn Hills, Aba area of the state, in a case of alleged fraud and obtaining huge funds by false pretence from unsuspecting foreigners across various countries, while posing as a staff of the agency.
Her words: “He is a native of Amamba Village, Abiriba in Ohafia LGA, Abia State. His level of education is SSCE and deals in clothing materials. The suspect is in our custody and is cooperating with the investigation.
“This case was reported by Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE following their application to register Dry Fish (Seafood). Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and other companies from various countries fell victim to this fraud. In a petition from Thani Almaeeni Trading Group reported to NAFDAC of the possible impersonation of the fraudsters as NAFDAC’s official using the NAFDAC’s letterhead and name. The fraudsters headed by Mr. Ikoro Mang Ifendu has duped the company thousands of dollars and millions of naira.
“These fraudsters or syndicate operate in a three-pronged scheme involving the Buyer, Bank, and Lawyer. Initially, the buyer contacts foreign companies to purchase and import goods into Nigeria. Subsequently, they introduce these companies to any of these banks for payment. The bank then declares that due to the lack of NAFDAC approval, the foreign companies are unable to export to Nigeria. Afterward, a legal counsel is introduced to the companies, claiming that they can obtain NAFDAC Certificate through this lawyer. The lawyer then receives payments in stages and issues fraudulent receipts and counterfeit of NAFDAC certificates to the companies.”
Mrs. Adeyeye said that the agency’s investigation revealed that the group operates 15 domiciliary and 5 local accounts in 7 Nigerian banks.
She noted that the account in one of the banks has a Bank Verification Number (BVN) that is being used by the 2 key members of the group, Ikoro Mang Ifendu and Rosemary Obosi.
“The exact number of the Accounts have not been established, because the suspect had deleted some of the Accounts and the alert messages. The tentative cumulative inflow from different victims into the Domiciliary Accounts in Nigeria is estimated to be over $950,000USD, while the sum of $450,000USD is the estimated inflow into the accounts held offshore in Cotonou, Benin Republic. The unsuspecting foreigners are still sending monies into the Accounts. Just before this press conference, an Alert of $75, 000 was received in one of the Domiciliary Accounts,” the DG stated.
She highlighted the documents issued to the client (Thani Almaeeni Trading Group) that exposed the scam, including Certificate of Registration of Dried Fish (Seafood) with NAFDAC Registration No A2-7059 issued to Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Unit 7, Building 2, Sector M-36, Musaffah Sector – M36, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates issued on December 16, 2024 and to expire on December 15, 2029.
“This number has never been issued by NAFDAC,” Adeyeye said.
Other documents include Revenue Receipt referenced “Original Receipt” issued to different victims or companies. “No: F4186, N6, 687, 000.00 issued to Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE and dated 28/11/2024. F9263, N20, 900, 000. 00 issued to Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE and dated 13/12/2024 and F4186, N6, 819, 200. 00 issued to LILY BEE LTD, 21 LYNEDOCH STREET, INDUSTRIAL ESTATE GREENOCK SCOTLAND PAIG, 4AX, UNITED KINGDOM dated 28/112024.
“RE: PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS, of USD 13, 785, 00 and purportedly signed by a former Director who had retired a year earlier (XXXXXXXX as DIRECTOR-GENERAL NAFDAC). dated December 3rd, 2024. Document of Swift Advice Copy of $1,990.00 with Rosemary Obosi as Beneficiary Customer dated 27th November 2024, (details are in the document).
“Document of Swift Advice Copy of $3, 000.00 with Mang Ifendu Ikoro as the Beneficiary Customer dated 12th December 2024 (details are in the document). CITYCODE Savings & Loans 5, Tinubu Street CTO Building Lagos Island, Lagos State Nigeria with Telegraphic Transfer of USD132, 972. 84 dated 24th December 2024. The document gave details of the process of transferring the stated amount.”
The NAFDAC boss also pointed out the documents (letterheads) used by the fraudsters to defraud the unsuspecting foreigners, including MANG IFENDU IKORO (HALI & CO CHAMBERS, Legal Practitioners and Solicitors), and ROSEMARY OBOSI (HALI & CO CHAMBERS, Legal Practitioners and Solicitors.
She further revealed details of foreign companies, aside from Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, that were defrauded of thousands of foreign currencies, based on evidence extracted from the suspect’s phone.
“Vicky Sales Assistant, Japan Long Tie (China) Co Limited, 245 Jingliu Road, Jinan, China for importation of Condom. BEYOND- Korea 711, Julie Rivers DR. USA. Aquaforest SP, Brzesko, Poland for registration and importation of Drinks and Vegetable Oil. Vincenzo Frecentese CEO, Nomea srl for registration of products with NAFDAC. Tianyan Filter Cloth Co. Ltd, Gonghexin Road, Jingan District, Shanghai, China. Siam Canadian China Ltd, Frozen Onion Spices, Zhanjiang Guangdong, China.”
The DG continued: “After exhausting the link to falsification of NAFDAC regulated products, this case will be transferred to EFCC for further investigation. This is to expand the investigation to other areas that are not within the mandate of NAFDAC. The investigation will also invoke POCA on all the assets illegally acquired in the course of the fraudulent activities.”
Adeyeye disclosed that the regulatory body has strengthened the activities of Investigation and Enforcement and Federal Task Force by reconstituting and changing the architecture and increasing the number of Investigating Police Officers of the Police Squad and Mobile Police attached to the Agency.
“The Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare will soon inaugurate the reconstituted Federal Task Force and by extension the State Task Forces to compliment the activities of the Agency in the States,” she remarked.
The NAFDAC boss urged the public not to transact business with any company that parades itself as a consulting firm for registration of products.
She further advised the public to visit https://registration.nafdac.gov.ng/ for products registration and verification of any suspected registered NAFDAC regulated product.
