Tinubu Govt Rocked by 'Fake Agency' Scandal: President Orders Arrests Amid State-Wide Allegations

President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action following revelations from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding a purported fake government agency. The President ordered the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze, identified as the promoter and operator of the alleged agency, and the suspension of three federal Permanent Secretaries: M. S. Danjuma, Engr. Nadungu Gagare, and Richard Pheelangwah.

Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, the ICPC Chairman, disclosed these directives after briefing President Tinubu on the commission’s latest findings in Abuja. The newly uncovered entity, known as the “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office” (also referred to as “National Brand Development and Made in Nigeria Project Office”), was found to have secured office accommodation within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) without presidential authorization.

This discovery emerged during the ICPC's wider investigation into the proliferation of fictitious government entities and the alleged abuse of official structures. The probe was initially spurred by an earlier presidential directive to investigate the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC),” another alleged fake institution. The ICPC chairman noted that the purported agency had managed to gain access to government premises despite lacking official approval to operate as a federal government entity.

The investigation has revealed that George Buchi Nwabueze allegedly operated under several name variations, including George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, and Prince George Buchi Nwabueze. Furthermore, the purported agency maintained an elaborate organizational structure, presenting itself as a nationwide government-backed initiative. Its website listed Nwabueze as “Executive Director, National Coordinator” and detailed officials for national administration, geopolitical zones, states, and even international representation in the United States and China.

Among those listed as state coordinators across Nigeria was Ambassador Orioye G. Benedict, an aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ondo State House of Assembly, identified as the “State Coordinator” for Ondo State. This revelation has raised further questions regarding the activities of the organization and the extent of individuals' knowledge regarding its alleged lack of government authorization. The agency's website also falsely claimed that it was overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, in the OSGF, a claim that the ICPC's findings have directly contradicted.

The ICPC is intensifying its investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the purported agency’s emergence, how it secured government office accommodation, and the roles played by public officials and other individuals. The probe will focus on individuals behind the agency, institutional weaknesses that allowed its operation, and whether the suspended Permanent Secretaries breached administrative procedures or facilitated its activities.

ICPC Chairman Aliyu commended President Tinubu for directing a wider policy audit of federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) and internal government processes, describing it as a proactive measure to strengthen governance systems. This development underscores the critical need for stronger controls and greater scrutiny of government institutions and administrative processes to prevent the exploitation of official structures by individuals seeking to create the impression of government authority. The Federal Government is committed to identifying and shutting down all fictitious entities operating within or around the public service.