By Ogochukwu Isioma
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze over the alleged operation of a fake government agency within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The President also ordered the immediate suspension of three Permanent Secretaries following fresh findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in its investigation into alleged fake government agencies and weaknesses in government processes.
The ICPC on Friday uncovered the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, which it said was operating from the SGF office without presidential authorisation. The ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, identified Nwabueze as the alleged promoter of the agency and said collaborators within the SGF office were also under suspicion.
The latest discovery emerged during investigations into the earlier alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), raising fresh concerns over gaps in government checks and administrative processes.
Following the findings, President Tinubu ordered Nwabueze’s immediate arrest and suspended Permanent Secretaries M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
The President also directed a forensic audit of government processes as investigations by the anti-corruption agency continue.
The latest development comes amid heightened scrutiny of the creation and operation of purported government agencies without proper presidential or administrative authorisation.
