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ICPC Busts Another Fake Agency; Tinubu Orders Arrest, Suspends 3 Perm Secs
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of an alleged promoter of a fake government agency and suspended three permanent secretaries following the discovery of another unauthorised office operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), disclosed the presidential directive on Friday while briefing State House correspondents after his second meeting with the President in two days.
According to Aliyu, the latest discovery emerged during the commission’s ongoing investigation into the activities of fictitious government agencies operating under the guise of presidential approval.
He said the newly uncovered office operated under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office and had been allocated office space within the OSGF without presidential authorisation and contrary to existing laws.
“Upon further briefing of Mr. President on the ongoing investigations into the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and procedural weaknesses in the public service, the ICPC uncovered another fake agency operating under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, which had been illegally allocated office space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” Aliyu said.
The ICPC chairman identified the alleged promoter of the office as George Buchi Nwabueze, also known as Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, whom he accused of operating under multiple identities.
According to him, investigators established that the suspect allegedly used several aliases, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, and George Nwabueze.
Aliyu alleged that the suspect worked with collaborators within the OSGF to establish and operate the office without the approval of President Tinubu.
He disclosed that the commission had engaged officials of the OSGF to obtain relevant information concerning the office and had submitted a comprehensive briefing on its findings to the President.
Following the briefing, Aliyu said President Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze and approved the suspension of three permanent secretaries—M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah—pending the outcome of investigations.
“I have briefed Mr. President comprehensively on these new developments, and the ICPC will continue with its investigations accordingly,” he added.
The latest development expands the ongoing investigation into fake government agencies, which began with the exposure of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a fictitious organisation whose self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is currently facing prosecution on charges of forgery and impersonation.
The ICPC had earlier submitted an interim report to President Tinubu on August 6 following a 30-day investigation, revealing the existence of two additional fictitious organisations—the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.
With the latest discovery, the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office becomes the fourth alleged fake government entity uncovered by the anti-corruption commission as investigations into the scandal continue.
The ICPC said investigations remain ongoing to identify all individuals involved in the establishment and operation of the unauthorised offices and to strengthen safeguards against similar abuses within the public service.
