ICPC uncovers another unauthorised office operating within the OSGF as probe into fictitious government bodies widens.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze and suspended three permanent secretaries following the discovery of another fake agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The suspended permanent secretaries are M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this on Friday after briefing the President for the second consecutive day on the commission’s investigation.
Aliyu said the newly uncovered entity, known as the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, had been allocated office space within the OSGF premises without presidential authorisation and contrary to existing regulations.
According to him, the investigation established that the office was promoted by Nwabueze, who allegedly operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
The ICPC chairman said the commission also identified suspected collaborators within the OSGF and was working with the office to obtain further information as the investigation continues.
Following the briefing, Aliyu said President Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of the three permanent secretaries.
The development is the latest in the investigation into fictitious government entities following the exposure of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The self-styled Director-General of the disputed council, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is currently facing prosecution over allegations of forgery and impersonation.
An interim ICPC report submitted to President Tinubu on August 6 after a 30-day investigation had also identified two other alleged 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 is therefore the fourth alleged fake agency uncovered since the investigation into the PFIPC scandal began.