The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has exposed a fraudulent syndicate that has been deceiving foreign companies using counterfeit NAFDAC documents.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed this at a press conference on Friday, detailing how the scheme operated.
The prime suspect, Mr. Ikoro Ifendu, a native of Amamba Village, Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, was apprehended on February 7, 2025, at Ogborn Hills, Aba, Abia State.
According to Prof. Adeyeye, Ifendu, who only holds a Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) and trades in clothing materials, had been impersonating NAFDAC officials to defraud international companies of large sums of money.
She stated that the suspect masterminded scams targeting businesses worldwide, with Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, being one of the victims.
How the Syndicate Operated
Explaining the scheme, she said, “The fraudsters operated through a complex three-pronged scheme involving a buyer, a bank, and a lawyer. They would contact foreign companies seeking to import goods into Nigeria, then introduce them to a supposed bank for payment processing.
“The bank would claim that the goods required NAFDAC approval, after which the companies would be referred to a fraudulent lawyer who would collect payments in installments, issuing counterfeit NAFDAC certificates and receipts.
“Our investigation revealed that the group operates 15 domiciliary and five local accounts in seven Nigerian banks,” Prof. Adeyeye said.
She further disclosed that one of the accounts had a Bank Verification Number (BVN) linked to two key syndicate members, Ikoro Mang Ifendu and Rosemary Obosi. However, she added that the full scope of their financial activities remains unclear, as some bank accounts and transaction alerts have been deleted.
Massive Financial Fraud
The investigation showed that over $950,000 had flowed into the syndicate’s Nigerian accounts, while an additional $450,000 was traced to offshore accounts in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
“Even as we speak, unsuspecting victims are still depositing funds into these fraudulent accounts.
“Just before this press conference, we received an alert of $75,000 in one of the domiciliary accounts,” Adeyeye revealed.
Fake Documents and Forged NAFDAC Certificates
According to Adeyeye, the fraudsters issued various forged documents, including:
“A Certificate of Registration for dried fish (Seafood) with a fake NAFDAC Registration No. A2-7059, issued to Thani Almaeeni Trading Group in Abu Dhabi.
Revenue receipts for fraudulent payments, including ₦6,687,000, ₦20,900,000, and ₦6,819,200 to different foreign firms.
Fake processing requirement documents demanding $13,785, fraudulently signed in the name of a former NAFDAC Director-General who retired a year earlier.”
She emphasized, “These fraudsters were highly sophisticated.
“They used forged letterheads, fake revenue receipts, and counterfeit NAFDAC certificates to make their scams appear legitimate.”
Beyond Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, several other international companies fell victim, including:
Japan Long Tie (China) Co. Ltd., Jinan, China – for condom importation.
Aquaforest SP, Brzesko, Poland – for the registration of drinks and vegetable oil.
Nomea Srl, Italy – for NAFDAC product registration.
Tianyan Filter Cloth Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China.
Siam Canadian China Ltd., Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China.
EFCC to Take Over the Case
Adeyeye affirmed that once NAFDAC completed its investigation into the falsification of regulated products, the case would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“This case is beyond NAFDAC’s mandate.
“We will hand it over to the EFCC to expand the investigation into other areas, including tracking assets illegally acquired through these fraudulent activities under the Proceeds of Crime Act.”
Strengthening Investigations and Enforcement
To prevent similar scams in the future, NAFDAC has restructured its Investigation and Enforcement Task Force, increasing the number of Investigating Police Officers and Mobile Police personnel.
“The Federal Task Force and State Task Forces will also be reconstituted to enhance enforcement efforts nationwide.
“I want to assure Nigerians that NAFDAC is taking this issue seriously.
“We have strengthened our investigation and enforcement activities to curb fraudsters who exploit innocent businesses,” she said.
Warning to Businesses and the Public
Prof. Adeyeye advised businesses to avoid consulting firms claiming to assist with product registration and to verify all registrations through NAFDAC’s official platform: https://registration.nafdac.gov.ng.
She cautioned, “We urge the public to remain vigilant.
“Do not transact with individuals or companies that claim to facilitate NAFDAC registrations outside our official platform.”
