Anietie Udobit,Abuja
The Founder, Chairman of the Governing Council, and President of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), Dr. Mrs. Victoria Okoronkwo, in a press statement on Wednesday, April 02, 2025, titled “Exposing The Impostors And Fraudsters Tarnishing The Reputation Of CIPMN” has warned members of the public, especially Project Mangers of some fraudsters who go about using the name of the organization to defraud innocent members of the public, conducting fake trainings and issuing fake certificates.
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The Statement reads:
The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has come under relentless assault by a group of impostors and fraudsters led by the disgraced former registrar, Henry Ifeanyi Mbadiwe, alongside his enablers like Jamilu Isa Yankwashi, Hajara Yusuf, and Chief Emmanuel Olabode Afolayan. These individuals have been defrauding unsuspecting members of the public by issuing fake certificates, conducting unauthorized training and inductions, and actively working to undermine the institution’s integrity and purpose.
In 2019, I, Dr. Mrs. Victoria Okoronkwo, invited Henry Mbadiwe from the UK and promoted his employment as the CIPMN’s pioneer Registrar. Unfortunately, what seemed like a promising start quickly degenerated into a nightmare as Mbadiwe began abusing his position and colluding with others to subvert the objectives of the Institute for personal gain.
A high point in this unfolding scandal was the judgment delivered by an FCT High Court, SUIT NO: CV/125/19, on 15th December 2020, which pronounced the dismissal of Henry Ifeanyi Mbadiwe from his role as Registrar of CIPMN. This judgment was subsequently enforced by the CIPMN Council via a letter (Ref No: CIPMN/TOA.HIM.06.21) dated 18th June 2021. Yet, in flagrant defiance of the law, Mbadiwe continued to operate unlawfully, conducting fake trainings and inductions, and issuing fraudulent certificates to members of the public.
Adding insult to injury, Chief Emmanuel Olabode Afolayan’s sack as Vice Chairman was referenced in CIPMN/TOA.OEA.0621. However, these conspirators have persisted in their fraudulent activities, emboldened by their own malice and greed.
The extent of the corruption orchestrated by these individuals is staggering. Mbadiwe and his business partner, Bashir Adewale, attempted to hijack the CIPMN website by intimidating the designer and host. A fraudulent letter referenced CIPMN/ADM/GXC/036/VOL.1/029 with the heading “NOTIFICATION LETTER ON IMPERSONATION OF GOVERNMENT REGULATORY BODY BY CLIENT” was issued by Mbadiwe, accusing CIPMN of impersonation. Despite our swift action to curtail this hijack attempt, the fraudsters have continued using the domain cipmn.gov.ng, a direct violation as CIPMN is not an agency of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments (FMITI).
Mbadiwe’s insidious schemes did not end there. This man, along with his accomplices, has been conducting unauthorized training and issuing fake certificates without CIPMN’s approval. To further cover their tracks, they sought to repeal the legitimate CIPMN Establishment Act No 3 of 2018 (Gazetted No. 15 Vol. 105) and replace it with another Project Management Bill (H.B. 1476) to legitimize their fraudulent activities.
The depth of their greed is evidenced by the massive sums of money siphoned from the Federal Government of Nigeria. For example, Dr. Mrs. Mojishola Mimi Abu, under the guise of being a Sole Administrator, requested the sum of N1.8 billion on 22nd June 2022 via a letter referenced CIPMN/SA/02/7, and another N150 million on 18th August 2022 with Reference No. T/FAL/23689/S.30811/11. These funds were supposedly requested in the name of CIPMN, yet CIPMN is not an agency of FMITI. The truth is that these requests were fraudulent attempts to steal from the nation’s treasury.
On 8th January 2024, Mbadiwe went as far as publishing a list of presumed project managers in the Punch Newspaper, despite his prior dismissal by the FCT High Court and CIPMN Council. This blatant disregard for authority was promptly countered by the CIPMN PRO via an online paper, nchmarknews.com, published in the Guardian Newspaper on 1st March 2024.
Nevertheless, Mbadiwe and his group have continued their illegal operations with utter impunity, violating the subsisting INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTION NO FHC/ABJ/CS/253/2022. They have continuously acted against established protocols and have unlawfully collected sums from the public under the guise of providing legitimate training and certification.
The audacity of Mbadiwe’s greed reached unprecedented levels when he received N11,263,800 (eleven million, two hundred and sixty-three thousand, eight hundred naira) for developing the CIPMN’s DUCAP FRAMEWORK and PORTAL but failed to deliver or return the funds to the Institute.
Furthermore, the complicity of Jamilu Isa Yankwashi cannot be overlooked. Despite serving as a sitting Vice President, Yankwashi has attempted to overthrow legitimate leadership by obtaining wanton judgments without following due process. On 13th June 2023, he illegally declared himself President despite his tenure expiring on 15th June 2023. Yankwashi’s desperate attempts to seize control demonstrate his willingness to undermine the Institute’s integrity to satisfy his selfish desires.
Yankwashi has also gone as far as registering a new body named INSTITUTE OF PROJECT, PROGRAM AND PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT with the CAC, which is a blatant attempt to replicate and usurp CIPMN’s authority. Furthermore, his consistent threats, attacks, and manipulation to further his agenda have continuously harmed CIPMN’s credibility.
This group of impostors and fraudsters must be brought to justice. Their actions are a direct assault on the professionalism, integrity, and credibility of CIPMN. As the Chairman of the Governing Council and President of CIPMN, I will not relent until every individual involved in this grand conspiracy is held accountable.
The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria stands firm in its resolve to expose and expel every fraudulent element masquerading under the guise of legitimacy. The CIPMN’s Establishment Act No 3 of 2018 remains the guiding authority, and all attempts to subvert it shall be vehemently opposed.
This is a call to action to all stakeholders, members of the public, and relevant authorities to join us in safeguarding the integrity of the Institute and ensuring that those who seek to destroy it are brought to justice.
-Dr. Mrs. Victoria Okoronkwo
Founder & Chairman of Governing Council, CIPMN
02/ 04/2025