President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze over the alleged operation of a fake government agency within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
Gatekeepers News reports that the president also ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries following fresh findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in its investigation into alleged fake government agencies and weaknesses in public service processes.
Musa Aliyu, ICPC chairman, disclosed this on Friday while speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Aliyu said the commission had uncovered another alleged fake office operating within the OSGF premises, identified as the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office.
According to him, the office was allegedly allocated space within the OSGF without presidential authorisation.
The ICPC chairman said the discovery was made during the commission’s broader investigation into the activities of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and other weaknesses in government procedures.
Aliyu said the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office was promoted by Nwabueze, who allegedly operated under different variations of his name.
He also alleged that the office operated with the involvement of suspected collaborators within the OSGF.
The ICPC said it engaged OSGF officials to obtain relevant information about the office before briefing Tinubu on its findings.
“Following the briefing, Mr President directed the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze,” Aliyu said.
Three permanent secretaries suspended
Aliyu also disclosed that Tinubu ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries identified as M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
He said the ICPC investigation was ongoing and that further actions could be taken as additional facts emerge.
The ICPC chairman commended Tinubu for ordering a forensic audit of government processes, describing the move as a proactive measure to strengthen governance and close loopholes that could facilitate abuse within the public service.
He said the ongoing investigation would determine the full extent of the alleged activities and identify all individuals involved.
The latest discovery comes as the ICPC intensifies its investigation into alleged unauthorised entities operating within government structures following Tinubu’s directive to probe the alleged fake PFIPC.
