President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of the promoter of another purported fake government agency and 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 this to journalists in Abuja after briefing the President on the commission’s latest findings.
Aliyu identified the suspended Permanent Secretaries as M. S. Danjuma, Engr. Nadungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwah.
He said Tinubu also directed the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze, who allegedly promoted and operated the purported agency.
The entity, according to the ICPC chairman, operated under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office.
The discovery followed an ongoing ICPC investigation into the proliferation of fictitious government entities and alleged abuse of official structures.
Aliyu 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 having no presidential approval to operate as a federal government entity.
The discovery was made during the commission’s wider investigation into the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which Tinubu had earlier directed the ICPC to investigate.
The ICPC chairman said the commission was engaging relevant officials within the OSGF to determine how the purported agency gained access to the government premises and establish the roles played by public officials and other individuals.
“I have briefed Mr. President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigation,” Aliyu said.
He said Nwabueze allegedly operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Buchi Nwabueze.
The ICPC said the latest discovery had widened its investigation into fictitious government entities and the exploitation of official structures by individuals seeking to create the impression of government authority.
Aliyu commended Tinubu for directing a wider audit of federal ministries, departments and agencies as well as internal government processes.
“President Bola Tinubu must be commended for the proactive step of directing the policy audit of MDAs and internal government processes towards strengthening government governance system,” he said.
The latest discovery comes weeks after the fictitious PFIPC was exposed, prompting the President to order an ICPC investigation into those behind the purported agency and possible involvement of public officials.
The commission is expected to determine how the newly uncovered entity emerged, how it secured government accommodation and whether any public officials facilitated its operations.
The investigation will also examine whether the suspended Permanent Secretaries breached administrative procedures or played any role in facilitating the purported agency’s activities.