- President Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze after ICPC uncovered another fake agency inside the OSGF
- The National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office was illegally allocated office space without presidential authorisation
- Three permanent secretaries were suspended as part of Tinubu’s response to the growing fake agency scandal
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues
FCT, Abuja – President Bola Tinubu has ordered the arrest of a man identified as Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries, following the discovery of a fourth fake government agency operating inside the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, announced the development on Friday while speaking with State House correspondents after briefing the President for the second consecutive day, having held an earlier meeting on Thursday.
Aliyu said the newly discovered body, operating under the name “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office,” had been given office space within the OSGF compound illegally and without any authorisation from the President.
Another fake office exposed inside OSGF
“The fake agency office, National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, was promoted by one George Buchi Nwabueze, with active suspected collaborators in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, contrary to extant laws and without authorisation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Investigators also found that Nwabueze had been operating under at least four other name variations: George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, and George Nwabueze.
Following the briefing, Tinubu ordered the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries: M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
Aliyu confirmed that the ICPC had engaged the OSGF to gather information relevant to the investigation and would continue its work.
“I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigations accordingly.”
Fourth fake body since PFIFC scandal
Friday’s disclosure is the latest development in a widening scandal that first came to light with the exposure of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIFC).
The self-styled Director-General of that body, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is currently facing prosecution on charges of forgery and impersonation.
An ICPC interim report submitted to the President on August 6, following a 30-day investigation, had already flagged two other fictitious bodies: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.
The National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office brings the total number of fake agencies uncovered in connection with the PFIFC scandal to four since early April.
Source: Legit.ng