Tinubu orders arrest of promoter, suspends three permanent secretaries
Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight has taken another turn after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) announced the discovery of another alleged fake government office operating within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The office, identified as the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, was allegedly promoted by George Buchi Nwabueze.
According to the ICPC, investigators found that the organisation had been operating with suspected support from officials within the OSGF, despite the commission’s claim that it did not have the required presidential authorisation.
President orders arrest
Following a briefing by ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze.
The President also ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries:
- M.S. Danjuma
- Engr. Nandungu Gagare
- Richard P. Pheelangwah
The ICPC said the action followed findings from its wider investigation into alleged fictitious government institutions.
How was the organisation operating?
The controversy is attracting attention because the organisation reportedly did more than simply use a government-sounding name.
Investigations reported by Premium Times indicate that the project office had developed a network across several states and interacted with government institutions. Its stated objectives included promoting Nigerian-made products, supporting small businesses, attracting investment and reducing dependence on imported goods.
The organisation’s website also described the project as a strategic initiative under the OSGF.
However, the existence of government-related activities and meetings does not, by itself, establish that the organisation was legally constituted as a federal agency.
Nwabueze disputes the allegation
The case has another side.
Nwabueze has reportedly rejected the description of the organisation as a fake agency and released documents which he says support his appointment and the legitimacy of the project office.
Some officials within the OSGF have also disputed the ICPC’s characterisation. They reportedly argued that the organisation was a project office rather than a federal agency, and alleged that an internal disagreement may have triggered the petition that led to the investigation.
These claims remain part of the ongoing controversy.
A bigger investigation
The latest case follows the ICPC’s investigation into the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), another organisation accused of presenting itself as a government institution without proper authority.
The ICPC’s wider investigation has raised questions about how organisations can obtain government office space, interact with public institutions and present themselves to Nigerians as official government bodies.
The development has therefore moved beyond the activities of one organisation. It is now raising questions about oversight, verification and accountability within Nigeria’s public service.
For now, the allegations against Nwabueze and the suspended officials remain subject to investigation, and they should not be treated as proof of criminal guilt.
MONAFRIKA TAKE
The discovery has exposed a worrying gap in Nigeria’s public administration: how can an organisation allegedly operate from within a federal government office and build relationships with public institutions without its legal status being settled earlier?
As the ICPC investigation continues, Nigerians will be watching for answers on who approved the office, who authorised its activities and whether anyone benefited from the arrangement.
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