Tinubu Orders Arrest of Nwabueze, Suspends Three Perm Secs Over Alleged Fake Agency
Tinubu Orders Arrest of Nwabueze, Suspends Three Perm Secs Over Alleged Fake Agency
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries following the discovery of another alleged fake agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, disclosed this on Friday while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The suspended permanent secretaries are M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwah.
Aliyu said the newly uncovered office, identified as the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, had been operating illegally after being allocated office space within the OSGF premises without presidential approval.
According to him, the discovery emerged from the ICPC’s ongoing investigation into the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), another alleged fake agency earlier uncovered by the commission following a directive from President Tinubu.
The ICPC chairman identified Nwabueze as the promoter of the newly uncovered office and said the investigation had also revealed the suspected involvement of some officials within the OSGF.
He said the office was promoted by Nwabueze under several variations of his name, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
Aliyu said the commission had engaged the OSGF to obtain relevant documents and information concerning the office and had briefed President Tinubu on its latest findings.
He added that following the briefing, the President directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of the three permanent secretaries.
The ICPC chairman said investigations would continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and operation of the alleged fake agency, as well as identify other individuals who may have been involved.
He assured that the commission would pursue the matter in accordance with the law and provide further updates as the investigation progresses.
