President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze and suspended three Permanent Secretaries following an investigation into an alleged unauthorised agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The development followed the discovery by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office operating from the SGF’s office without what the commission said was presidential authorisation.
The ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, reportedly identified Nwabueze as the alleged promoter of the organisation, while officials within the SGF’s office are also being investigated over their alleged involvement.
The investigation emerged from broader probes into the previously uncovered fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and concerns over weaknesses in government verification and oversight processes.
President Tinubu, following the findings, ordered Nwabueze’s immediate arrest and suspended three Permanent Secretaries; M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation also lists Danjuma, Gagare and Pheelangwah among serving Permanent Secretaries, with the latter three associated with offices under the SGF and other federal ministries.
The President also directed a forensic audit of government processes to identify loopholes that could allow unauthorised entities to operate within government offices.
The ICPC said investigations into the matter are ongoing.
