PFIPC Probe: Tinubu Orders Arrest of Promoter, Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries as ICPC Uncovers Fresh Scam
By Facthabournews
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze following the discovery of another alleged fake government agency operating within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The President also approved the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) uncovered the unauthorised office during its ongoing investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed the latest development on Friday after briefing President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to the anti-corruption commission, the newly uncovered entity operated under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office.
Aliyu said investigators discovered that the purported office had been allocated space within the OSGF premises despite allegedly having no valid presidential authorisation or legal status as a government establishment.
The discovery was made as part of the wider investigation ordered by President Tinubu following the controversy surrounding the alleged PFIPC.
The ICPC chairman said the development raised concerns about weaknesses in public-service procedures that could allow unauthorised individuals or organisations to operate from government facilities.
The commission is now working with officials of the OSGF to establish how the purported office obtained access to government premises and whether other officials or individuals were involved in its establishment and activities.
The ICPC identified George Buchi Nwabueze as the alleged promoter of the purported office.
The commission said investigators discovered that Nwabueze allegedly operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
Following the briefing by the ICPC chairman, President Tinubu directed that Nwabueze be immediately arrested.
The arrest directive does not constitute a conviction, and the allegations against the suspect remain subject to investigation and any subsequent judicial proceedings.
The ICPC said its investigation would determine the full circumstances surrounding the establishment and operation of the purported agency and identify anyone who may have participated in the process.
President Tinubu also ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries in connection with the latest discovery.
The affected officials are M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
The ICPC has not presented the suspension as a final finding of guilt against the officials. Rather, the measure forms part of the ongoing investigation into how the purported agency obtained space within the OSGF and operated from government premises.
Investigators are expected to establish the roles, if any, played by the suspended officials and other persons connected with the matter.
The latest discovery is an extension of the investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The PFIPC came under scrutiny after questions were raised about its claimed government status and the activities of its purported director-general, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.
In an interim report submitted to President Tinubu on August 6, the ICPC said its investigation found that the purported PFIPC had not been established by any law, executive order or other valid government instrument.
The commission also said documents allegedly used by Adeyemi, including an appointment letter, were forged. It subsequently recommended prosecution over alleged offences including forgery and impersonation.
The ICPC’s investigation also identified other purported organisations, including the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.
The discovery of the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office has now widened the scope of the investigation and increased attention on administrative controls within the Federal Government.
The development has renewed discussions about how government agencies and offices are created, approved and monitored.
Government agencies ordinarily operate within legal and administrative frameworks, with their mandates and leadership subject to appropriate authorisation. The alleged operation of an unauthorised office from government premises has therefore raised questions about internal verification procedures.
The ICPC said it would continue investigating the matter and work with relevant government officials to establish the facts.
For the Tinubu administration, the investigation also provides an opportunity to demonstrate how public institutions can respond when allegations of impersonation, unauthorised government operations or administrative misconduct arise.
The immediate arrest directive and suspension of the three permanent secretaries are administrative and investigative steps. They do not, by themselves, establish criminal liability.
The ICPC is expected to gather additional evidence, establish the identities and roles of all persons involved and determine whether criminal or administrative offences were committed.
Any individuals eventually charged will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations through the appropriate legal process.
The investigation is also likely to examine how the purported office obtained access to government facilities and whether similar unauthorised entities exist elsewhere within the public service.
As the PFIPC investigation continues, the latest discovery has shifted attention from one alleged fictitious government body to a broader question of how effectively government systems prevent unauthorised organisations from presenting themselves as legitimate Federal Government institutions.
The ICPC has assured that its investigation will continue, while the Presidency’s latest directives signal a focus on accountability and the need to strengthen safeguards within government administrative structures.
This report is based on statements and findings attributed to the ICPC and other publicly reported sources. Allegations against individuals are presented as allegations and should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt unless established by a competent court.
