Trending 
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered another alleged fake agency operating under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN, disclosed the development on Friday after briefing President Bola Tinubu for the second time in two days.
Following the discovery, Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries.
They are M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
Aliyu said the agency, known as the “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office”, had been illegally allocated office space within the OSGF premises without presidential authorisation.
He said the commission made the discovery during its ongoing investigation into fake government agencies, which began with exposing the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
“Upon further briefing by ICPC to Mr President on the ongoing investigations into the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and procedural weaknesses in the public service, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered another fake agency and office operating under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office,” Aliyu said.
According to the ICPC chairman, Nwabueze promoted the alleged fake agency and had suspected collaborators within the OSGF.
Aliyu said Nwabueze was also found to be operating under several names, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
“The fake agency 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,” he said.
Aliyu said the ICPC had engaged the OSGF to obtain information relevant to the investigation and had briefed Tinubu on the latest findings.
Following the briefing, the President directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of the three permanent secretaries.
“Mr President has directed as follows: the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze; the immediate suspension of the following permanent secretaries; M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah,” Aliyu said.
The latest discovery is the fourth alleged fake agency the ICPC has uncovered since the investigation began in early April.
The investigation began after the exposure of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, whose self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, faces prosecution over alleged forgery and impersonation.
An ICPC interim report submitted to Tinubu on August 6, after a 30-day investigation, also identified two other fictitious bodies: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.
The commission said it would continue its investigation into the latest discovery and other alleged weaknesses within the public service.
