President Tinubu Orders Arrest, Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries as ICPC Uncovers Second Fake Federal Agency

Another Phantom Office Exposed

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and suspended three permanent secretaries after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) uncovered a second fake government agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). The suspended officials are named as M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah.

ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu, SAN, disclosed the development on Friday while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, after meeting with Tinubu for the second time in two days. The newly discovered fake office was operating under the name "National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office," and had reportedly been allocated physical office space within the OSGF premises without presidential authorization and in violation of existing law.

The President's Directive

Announcing the outcome of the briefing, Aliyu quoted Tinubu's instructions directly: "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." Aliyu said the ICPC's investigation had involved engaging directly with OSGF officials to gather information about the office before briefing the president on its findings, and warned that further action could follow as the investigation continues.

Multiple Aliases for the Alleged Promoter

According to Aliyu, investigators found that Nwabueze, identified as the promoter behind the fake office, had allegedly operated under at least four other name variations beyond his primary identity: George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, and George Buchi Nwabueze. The ICPC chairman said the office had "active suspected collaborators" within the OSGF itself, contrary to existing laws and without any authorization from the presidency.

Part of a Widening Scandal

This is the second fake government entity uncovered as part of a broader ICPC investigation that Tinubu ordered following the initial exposure of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). That original scandal centers on a self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who is currently facing prosecution on charges of forgery and impersonation. Police have already filed charges against him, and a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for scheduled proceedings on July 14.

Investigators had alleged the PFIPC operated out of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, and on July 24, Nigeria's Budget Office clarified that a N1.3 billion appropriation tied to the fake agency never actually became real government expenditure, since the required payroll, cash release, and procurement steps were never completed. The House of Representatives has also opened its own inquiry into the matter.

The ICPC's interim report on the broader investigation, submitted to Tinubu on August 6 after a 30-day probe, had already flagged the existence of additional alleged fictitious entities beyond the original PFIPC case, setting the stage for Friday's disclosure of this second fake office.

What Happens Next

With the ICPC's investigation still described as ongoing, Aliyu indicated that additional findings and further presidential action remain possible as the commission continues examining how these unauthorized entities were able to secure office space and, in the PFIPC's case, budget allocations within Nigeria's federal government structure. For now, the three named permanent secretaries remain suspended pending the outcome of the wider probe, while authorities work to locate and arrest Nwabueze in connection with the newly uncovered office.

Sources

• Channels Television — Tinubu Orders Arrest, Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries As ICPC Uncovers Another 'Fake' Agency
• Premium Times — Tinubu suspends three permanent secretaries over fresh fake agency, orders alleged promoter's arrest
• Nairametrics — Tinubu suspends 3 permanent secretaries, orders arrest of fake agency promoter
• The Sun Nigeria — Tinubu orders arrest over another fake agency in SGF office, suspends three permanent secretaries
• Sahara Reporters — Tinubu Orders Arrest Of Fake Agency Promoter, Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries After ICPC Discovery