The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered another alleged fake government agency operating within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The agency, identified as the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, was allegedly allocated office space within the OSGF complex without presidential authorisation.
ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this on Friday while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on the commission’s ongoing investigation into the activities of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and other weaknesses in government processes.
Aliyu explained that the latest discovery was made as part of a broader investigation ordered by President Bola Tinubu into the activities of the alleged fake PFIPC and procedural lapses within the public service.
According to him, the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office was promoted by Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, who allegedly operated under different variations of his name.
The ICPC chairman said preliminary findings indicated that the office was active and allegedly had the involvement of suspected collaborators within the OSGF.
He disclosed that the commission had engaged officials of the OSGF to obtain relevant information about the office and had subsequently briefed President Tinubu on its findings.
Following the briefing, the President directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze.
Tinubu also ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries identified as M.S. Danjuma, Engineer Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
Aliyu said the investigation remained ongoing, adding that the commission would take further action as additional facts emerge.
He commended President Tinubu for ordering a forensic audit of government processes, describing the move as a proactive step towards strengthening public sector governance and preventing similar abuses.
The ICPC chairman said the ongoing investigation would help expose procedural weaknesses and ensure that government institutions were not misused by individuals or groups operating without proper authorisation.