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President Bola Tinubu has ordered the arrest of one George Nwabueze as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) uncovered alleged operations of fake government agencies inside the office premises of the secretary to the government of the federation (OSGF).
The president also ordered the immediate dismissal of three permanent secretaries following new findings from an ICPC investigation into alleged fraudulent government agencies and weaknesses in public service processes.
The three permanent secretaries affected were – MS Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah – over the discovery of the fake agent.
ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Friday after briefing the president.
Aliyu said the fake office, operating under the name “Office of National Brand Development and Made in Nigeria Special Projects,” had illegally allocated office space within the OSGF premises, contrary to existing laws and without permission from the presidency.
He said, “Following further briefing by the ICPC to Mr President regarding the ongoing investigation into the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFICP) and procedural flaws in the public service, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) has uncovered other fake agencies and offices operating under the name of National Brand Development and Made in Nigeria Special Projects Office, which have been illegally allocated office space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” Aliyu said.
According to him, this latest discovery emerged during a wider ICPC investigation, as previously directed by President Tinubu, and identified the promoter of the fake office as Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, who is known to operate under various names.
“The fake agency, the Office of National Brand Development and Special Projects Made in Nigeria, was promoted by George Buchi Nwabueze, with alleged active collaborators in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, contrary to existing laws and without the permission of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“His promoter, George Buchi Nwabueze, is also known to operate under four variations of his name: George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honorable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, and George Nwabueze,” Aliyu said.
He disclosed that the ICPC had interacted with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ascertain vital information regarding the fake office under investigation, and had briefed the President comprehensively on the new developments.
“The ICPC will continue its investigation. Mr President has directed the following: the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze; the immediate dismissal of the following permanent secretaries: MS Danjuma, Engineer Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah,” he said.
The Made in Nigeria and Brand Development Special Projects Office is the fourth illegal agency to be exposed following the Presidential Council for the Promotion of Foreign Intervention scandal in April.
This latest discovery follows revelations of the PFIFC dispute, whose Director General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is currently facing investigation.
The ICPC, in its interim report submitted to the President on August 6 after a 30-day investigation, previously revealed the existence of two other fictitious bodies, the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion and Public-Private Partnership Agency.
The House of Representatives has also initiated an investigation into the PFIFC and its disputed Director General, with appearances made by the Head of Services of the Federation and the Accountant General of the Federation.
