President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and the suspension of three federal Permanent Secretaries following the discovery of another alleged fake government agency by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed this on Friday after briefing President Tinubu on the commission’s latest findings from its ongoing investigation into fictitious government agencies and weaknesses within public sector processes.
The three suspended Permanent Secretaries were identified as M.S. Danjuma, Engr. Nadungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwah.
According to Aliyu, the purported agency, operating under the name “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office,” had allegedly been allocated office space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) without presidential authorisation and contrary to existing regulations.
The discovery was reportedly made during an expanded investigation into the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following a directive from President Tinubu.
Aliyu said the alleged fake agency was promoted by Nwabueze, who reportedly operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Buchi Nwabueze.
The ICPC chairman said the commission was working with relevant officials in the OSGF to determine how the purported agency gained access to government premises and to obtain other information necessary for the investigation.
Following the briefing, President Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of the three Permanent Secretaries pending further investigation.
The ICPC is expected to determine the roles allegedly played by the suspended officials and other individuals in the establishment and operation of the purported agency.
Aliyu said the latest discovery highlighted the need for stronger controls and closer scrutiny of government institutions and administrative processes.
He also commended President Tinubu for ordering a broader policy audit of federal agencies and government processes, describing the move as an effort to strengthen governance and improve accountability.
The latest investigation follows the earlier exposure of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, whose self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is currently facing prosecution over alleged forgery and impersonation.