Following the discovery of another fake government agency amidst the controversy surrounding the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), President Bola Tinubu on Friday ordered the immediate arrest and suspension of three federal Permanent Secretaries over their alleged involvement in the operation of another fake agency uncovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Brief Newsmen after meeting with the President on the findings from the commission’s ongoing investigation into fictitious agencies and weaknesses in public sector processes, the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, said the newly uncovered entity, operating as National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, had allegedly secured office accommodation within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) without authorisation from the President.
He named the affected Permanent Secretaries to include M S Danjuma, Engr Nadungu Gagare, and Richard Pheelangwah.
Aliyu, pointed out that the discovery emanated from the broader investigation into the PFIPC, which President Tinubu had directed the ICPC to undertake.
According to the ICPC Chairman, the fake agency, was promoted by Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, who allegedly operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Buchi Nwabueze.
“I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigation,” he assured.
He made it clear that the commission will establish the roles played by the suspended officials and other individuals in the emergence and operation of the purported agency and commended President Tinubu for ordering a wider policy audit of federal agencies and government processes.
The ICPC Boss revealed that the commission was engaging relevant officials in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to establish how the purported agency came to operate from government premises and to obtain other vital information required for the investigation.
