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By Lizzy Chirkpi
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of one Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, the embattled National Coordinator/Executive Director of the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project, following the discovery of an alleged fake government agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The development was disclosed on Friday by the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), after briefing President Tinubu on the commission’s latest findings.
According to Aliyu, the ICPC uncovered the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, which had allegedly been allocated office space within the OSGF without presidential authorisation.
“Upon further briefing by ICPC to Mr President on the ongoing investigations into the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and procedural weaknesses in the public service, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered another fake agency and office operating under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office,” Aliyu said.
He said the purported agency was promoted by Nwabueze, who allegedly operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Nwabueze, Buchi Nwabueze, and George Nwabueze .
Aliyu further alleged that the outfit had “active suspected collaborators” within the OSGF and was operating contrary to existing laws and without authorisation from the President.
The ICPC chairman said the commission had engaged officials of the OSGF to obtain information concerning the purported agency before briefing the President on its findings.
“I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigations accordingly,” Aliyu said.
On the President’s response, Aliyu said: “Mr President has directed as follows: the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze; the immediate suspension of the following permanent secretaries; M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah.”
The three permanent secretaries are expected to remain suspended as investigations continue into how the purported agency gained access to government premises and the possible involvement of officials within the OSGF.
The latest discovery follows the ICPC’s investigation into the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and broader concerns over procedural weaknesses within the public service.
The commission said its investigation into the new development is ongoing, with further action expected as more facts emerge.