NAFDAC ARRESTS LEADER OF INTERNATIONAL FRAUD NETWORK TARGETING FOREIGN BUSINESSES
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On Friday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) apprehended the head of a fraudulent syndicate, uncovering a $1.4 million international scam that deceived foreign businesses into paying for fake NAFDAC product registrations.
The criminal network, led by Ikoro Mang Ifendu, used counterfeit documents to dupe companies from China, Japan, Poland, South Korea, the UAE, and the United States. These businesses were misled into paying substantial fees for non-existent NAFDAC product registrations.
Ifendu was arrested in Aba, Abia State, on February 7, 2025, as part of an ongoing investigation into the fraudulent operations.
During a press briefing in Lagos, NAFDAC’s Director General, Professor Christianah Adeyeye, confirmed the arrest of 52-year-old Ifendu, a trader from Abia State, and revealed the details of the elaborate scam. The investigation was triggered by a complaint from Thani Almaeeni Trading Group in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which reported being defrauded of thousands of dollars while attempting to register dried fish for export to Nigeria.
Professor Adeyeye outlined the three-tier fraud scheme orchestrated by Ifendu and his syndicate, which involved multiple fraudulent stages:
Foreign businesses were contacted by fraudsters posing as importers seeking their products.
These businesses were directed to banks that falsely claimed their exports required NAFDAC registration.
A fake legal expert was introduced to facilitate the supposed registration process for a substantial fee.
The syndicate funneled over $950,000 into Nigerian domiciliary accounts linked to the group, with an additional $450,000 traced to offshore accounts in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Despite Ifendu’s arrest, NAFDAC reported a new alert indicating a fresh deposit of $75,000 into one of the fraudulent accounts.
In addition, the fraud ring generated fake NAFDAC registration certificates, revenue receipts, and swift transfer documents, many of which falsely carried the names of retired NAFDAC officials to lend credibility. Among the fraudulent documents presented at the press conference were a fake NAFDAC Registration Certificate issued to Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, counterfeit revenue receipts for payments ranging from ₦6.8 million to ₦20.9 million, and fraudulent processing documents signed by a former NAFDAC director.
NAFDAC also identified several other foreign companies from countries including China, Japan, Poland, South Korea, and the United States that had fallen victim to this scam.
She said these companies were tricked into paying for fraudulent product registrations covering items like condoms, vegetable oil, and beverages.
She pledged that the agency would intensify its crackdown on fraudulent activities.
Adeyeye said the case will be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation. The EFCC plans to invoke the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) to recover assets illegally acquired by the fraudsters.
She further assured the public that NAFDAC has strengthened its investigative and enforcement units, including deploying more police officers to track down fraudsters.
Adeyeye urged businesses only to register products through official NAFDAC channels, directing them to the official NAFDAC registration portal for verification.
She added: “We will not tolerate any criminal activities that tarnish the reputation of NAFDAC or exploit innocent businesses. The public must remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. NAFDAC will continue to investigate the full extent of the fraud, with additional arrests expected as the investigation unfolds.”
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