President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of the promoter of another purported fake government agency and directed the suspension of three federal Permanent Secretaries following fresh findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed the development to journalists in Abuja after briefing the President on the commission’s latest findings.
The Permanent Secretaries affected by the presidential directive were identified as M. S. Danjuma, Engr. Nadungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwah.
Tinubu also ordered the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze, who the ICPC identified as the individual allegedly responsible for promoting and operating the purported government entity.
According to the anti-corruption commission, the organisation operated under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office.
The discovery was made as part of the ICPC’s broader investigation into the proliferation of fictitious government entities and the alleged misuse of official government structures.
The commission said the purported agency had secured office accommodation within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), despite allegedly having no presidential authorisation to operate as a federal government entity.
The latest discovery emerged during the ICPC’s investigation into the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which President Tinubu had previously directed the commission to probe.
The commission is now examining how the purported National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office obtained access to government premises and whether public officials or other individuals facilitated its operations.
The ICPC is also expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation of the entity, the process through which it secured office accommodation and the extent of any involvement by officials within the federal government.
Nwabueze was reportedly identified by the commission as operating under several variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Buchi Nwabueze.
The latest development has expanded the scope of the ICPC investigation into the creation and operation of fictitious government institutions and the exploitation of official government structures by individuals seeking to project an appearance of government authority.
The commission’s findings have also raised questions about the administrative procedures and institutional controls governing access to federal government facilities and the recognition of organisations claiming to operate under the authority of the government.
The ICPC said its investigation would continue as it seeks to determine whether any public officials facilitated the operation of the purported agency and whether established administrative procedures were breached.
The three suspended Permanent Secretaries could consequently come under scrutiny as investigators examine their respective roles and responsibilities in relation to the entity’s presence within the OSGF premises.
The development followed President Tinubu’s directive for a broader policy audit of federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as internal government processes, aimed at strengthening governance and improving administrative controls.
The latest discovery comes only weeks after the ICPC exposed the purported PFIPC, which had allegedly operated while presenting itself as a legitimate government institution.
Following the earlier discovery, Tinubu directed the anti-corruption commission to investigate those behind the organisation and determine whether public officials had assisted its activities.
The subsequent investigation led to the discovery of the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, prompting the latest presidential directives.
The ICPC investigation is expected to examine both the individuals allegedly behind the purported agency and the institutional gaps that enabled an unauthorised entity to secure access to federal government premises.
Investigators will also assess whether the suspended Permanent Secretaries breached administrative rules or had any role in facilitating the organisation’s activities.
The latest action is expected to further intensify scrutiny of the procedures for establishing, recognising and operating government agencies and other public institutions.
The Federal Government, through the ongoing investigations and policy audit, is seeking to identify and shut down fictitious entities operating within or around the public service while strengthening safeguards against the misuse of government structures and official authority.