Tinubu orders arrest of George Nwabueze, suspends three perm secs as ICPC uncover another fake agency in SGF office
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of George 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).
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, announced the president’s directives on Friday while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Aliyu said the commission 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 procedural weaknesses in government.
Aliyu said the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office was promoted by Nwabueze, who allegedly operated under several variations of his name.
The commission also alleged that the office operated with the involvement of suspected collaborators within the OSGF.
Aliyu said the ICPC engaged OSGF officials to obtain information about the office before briefing Tinubu on its findings.
“Following the briefing, Mr President directed the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze,” he said.
The ICPC chairman also disclosed that Tinubu ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries identified as M.S. Danjuma, Engineer Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
Aliyu said the commission’s investigation was ongoing and warned that further action could follow as more facts emerge.
The latest discovery comes as the ICPC intensifies its investigation into alleged unauthorised entities operating within government structures.
The probe follows Tinubu’s directive to investigate the alleged fake PFIPC.
Aliyu commended the President for ordering a forensic audit of government processes, describing the move as a proactive step towards strengthening governance and closing loopholes that could facilitate abuse within the public service.
He said the investigation would seek to establish the full extent of the alleged activities and identify all individuals involved.
