By Paul Joseph
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended three permanent secretaries following the discovery of an alleged fake government agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The suspected agency, identified as the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, is alleged to have been operating without government authorisation.
The affected permanent secretaries are M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah, while the President has also directed the immediate arrest of the alleged promoter of the organisation, George Buchi Nwabueze.
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, disclosed the development while briefing State House correspondents on Friday.
According to Aliyu, investigations revealed that Nwabueze allegedly operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Hon. George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
The ICPC chairman said he had briefed President Tinubu on the latest findings and that the commission would continue its investigation into the matter.
The discovery followed the ICPC’s ongoing investigation into the alleged fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), which has expanded to uncover additional entities suspected of operating as government agencies without proper authorisation.
Aliyu had earlier briefed the President on August 6 on the commission’s interim report, submitted 30 days after Tinubu directed the investigation into the alleged fake agency.
The ICPC also recommended the prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as Director-General of the organisation, over suspected offences including forgery and impersonation.
The latest development underscores the Federal Government’s efforts to identify and shut down unauthorised bodies allegedly using government offices and identities, while bringing those found culpable to justice.
Further details of the investigation are expected as the ICPC continues its probe.
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