President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate suspension of three Permanent Secretaries and the arrest of a suspected promoter of a fake government agency following the discovery of an unauthorised organisation operating within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The latest development, according to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), is part of an ongoing investigation into fictitious government agencies and offices allegedly created to exploit administrative structures of the Federal Government.
Chairman of the ICPC, Dr Musa Aliyu, disclosed this on Friday while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, explaining that the commission uncovered the fake agency, identified as the National Brands Development and Mandates in the Nigeria Special Project Office, during its broader investigation into the previously discovered fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). He said the agency had been illegally allocated office space within the SGF’s premises, prompting the commission to brief President Tinubu on its findings and the subsequent presidential directives.
“The ICPC has uncovered another fake agency and office operating under the name National Brands Development and Mandates in the Nigeria Special Project Office, which had been illegally allocated office space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“The discovery was made in the course of the ICPC’s broader investigation, as earlier directed by Mr President, and the commission has briefed him comprehensively on these new developments,” Aliyu said.
The ICPC boss identified the promoter of the fake agency as Prince George Nwabueze, adding that the president had ordered for his immediate arrest.
He said Nwabueze allegedly promoted the fake agency without authorisation from the president, contrary to extant laws governing the establishment and operation of government agencies.
Aliyu said the commission had engaged the Office of the SGF to obtain vital information relating to the fake agency and would continue its investigation into the matter.
“Accordingly, Mr President has directed the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and the immediate suspension of the following Permanent Secretaries; M.S Danjuma, Engineer Nadungu Gagare, and Richard Pheelangwah,” he said.
Aliyu said the presidential directive was part of broader efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and integrity within the federal government’s administrative structures.
He said the discovery further underscored the importance of the forensic audit of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, and internal government processes ordered by the president.
Aliyu said the ICPC would continue to provide relevant information to the president as investigations progressed, stressing the need to identify and eliminate administrative loopholes that could facilitate the creation of fictitious agencies and offices.
