Breaking: Tinubu Orders Arrest, Suspends 3 Perm Secs as ICPC Uncovers Fake Agency

Breaking: Tinubu Orders Arrest, Suspends 3 Perm Secs as ICPC Uncovers Fake Agency

  • President Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze after ICPC uncovered another fake agency inside the OSGF
  • The National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office was illegally allocated office space without presidential authorisation
  • Three permanent secretaries were suspended as part of Tinubu's response to the growing fake agency scandal

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues

FCT, Abuja - President Bola Tinubu has ordered the arrest of a man identified as Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries, following the discovery of a fourth fake government agency operating inside the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, said the newly discovered body operates under the name "National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office."

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Aliyu said the fake agency had been given office space within the OSGF compound illegally and without any authorisation from the President.

As reported by The Punch, he announced the development on Friday, August 21, 2026, while speaking with State House correspondents after briefing the President for the second consecutive day,

Another fake office exposed inside OSGF

"The fake agency office, National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, was promoted by one George Buchi Nwabueze, with active suspected collaborators in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, contrary to extant laws and without authorisation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

Investigators also found that Nwabueze had been operating under at least four other name variations: George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, and George Nwabueze.

According to TheCable, following the briefing, Tinubu ordered the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries: M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah.

Aliyu confirmed that the ICPC had engaged the OSGF to gather information relevant to the investigation and would continue its work.

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"I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigations accordingly."

Fourth fake body since PFIFC scandal

Friday's disclosure is the latest development in a widening scandal that first came to light with the exposure of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIFC).

An ICPC interim report submitted to the President on August 6, following a 30-day investigation, had already flagged two other fictitious bodies: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.

The National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office brings the total number of fake agencies uncovered in connection with the PFIFC scandal to four since early April.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Adekunle Dada avatar

Adekunle Dada (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Adekunle Dada is a trained journalist with over 8 years of working experience. He is also a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a B.Sc. in Mass Communication from Lagos State University, Ojo. Adekunle previously worked at PM News, The Sun, and Within Nigeria, where he expressed his journalistic skills with well-researched articles and features. In 2024, Adekunle obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. He can be reached via adekunle.dada@corp.legit.ng.

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