From PFIFC to ‘National Brands’: How Fake Agencies Keep Popping Up Inside Nigeria’s Government
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze and the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries following the discovery of another allegedly unlawful agency operating from within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The development was announced on Friday by the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, SAN, after briefing President Tinubu at the State House.
The discovery is part of a wider investigation into fictitious or unauthorised government bodies and weaknesses within Nigeria’s public service.
ICPC chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN with President Bola Tinubu
ICPC uncovers another unauthorised office
According to Aliyu, investigators uncovered an office operating under the name “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office.”
The ICPC chairman said the office had been allocated space within the OSGF premises despite allegedly lacking presidential authorisation and operating contrary to existing public service rules.
Investigators identified Nwabueze as the promoter of the office.
Aliyu also said the suspect was found to have operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
The ICPC further identified what it described as active suspected collaborators within the OSGF.
The commission said its investigators have engaged officials of the OSGF to obtain information relevant to the investigation and have briefed the President on the findings.
Three permanent secretaries suspended
Following the briefing, President Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze.
He also ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries:
- M.S. Danjuma
- Nadungu Gagare
- Richard P. Pheelangwah
The suspensions are linked to the ICPC’s investigation into how the disputed office obtained space and operated within the government complex.
The ICPC said its investigation will continue as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the office and identify everyone involved.
Part of a wider investigation into fake agencies
The latest discovery is not an isolated case.
It follows the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), whose operations triggered a broader investigation into alleged fictitious government bodies and procedural weaknesses within the public service.
The disputed council’s self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is currently under investigation.
In an interim report submitted to President Tinubu on August 6 after a 30-day probe, the ICPC had also disclosed the existence of two other bodies it described as fictitious: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.
The latest discovery brings the number of unlawful or fictitious agencies identified in the investigation to four.
National Assembly also probing PFIPC
The controversy has also attracted the attention of the National Assembly.
The House of Representatives has opened its own investigation into the PFIPC and the activities of its disputed director-general.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Accountant-General of the Federation have already appeared before the lawmakers as part of the probe.
The overlapping investigations could provide further insight into how unauthorised entities were able to operate within or around government structures.
What happens next?
The ICPC says its investigation into the newly discovered office will continue, while Nwabueze is expected to face questioning following the President’s arrest order.
The development also puts renewed attention on the controls governing the creation, recognition and operation of government agencies and offices.
For the Tinubu administration, the investigation presents an opportunity to demonstrate that unauthorised use of government structures and public resources will not be tolerated. For Nigerians, the bigger question is how such offices were able to gain access to official premises in the first place — and whether the ongoing probes will lead to stronger safeguards across the public service.
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