Tinubu Orders Arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze Over Fake 'Made in Nigeria' Agency, Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze after Nigeria's anti-graft agency uncovered a bogus federal office operating out of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

The fictitious body, calling itself the "National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office," had been presenting itself as a government agency overseeing locally manufactured goods .

How the Fake Agency Was Uncovered
The discovery was disclosed on Friday by the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja after his second meeting with President Tinubu in two days.

Aliyu said the office had been illegally allocated space within the OSGF premises under Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume without presidential authorisation and contrary to existing regulations .

The fake office emerged as an offshoot of the ICPC's ongoing investigation into the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), whose self-classd Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is already facing prosecution on charges of forgery and impersonation. Tinubu had ordered a 30-day investigation into fake federal agencies after the PFIPC scandal broke; the ICPC's interim report, submitted on August 6, had already flagged two other fictitious bodies, including the FCT Investment Promotion Agency.

Multiple Aliases
According to Aliyu, investigators found that Nwabueze operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, and George Nwabueze, alongside "Prince George Buchi Nwabueze".

The ICPC alleged he worked with suspected collaborators inside the OSGF to establish and run the fake office.

Presidential Directives
Following the briefing, Aliyu said Tinubu directed:

The immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze

The immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries: M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah

"I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigations accordingly," Aliyu said.

He added that the commission had engaged OSGF officials to obtain further information about the office before updating the president.

Part of a Widening Pattern
Analysts cited by wire reports believe the individuals behind these schemes have been working with senior government officials to siphon money from the national budget by posing as legitimate public bodies, though the ICPC chairman did not say whether Nwabueze had personally profited from the scheme before it was uncovered.

There case is the second such fake-agency scandal to surface under the Tinubu administration in under two months, raising fresh questions about vetting and oversight of office space and credentials within federal government premises.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/Science communicator, Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,United States Institute of Peace (USIP), mustysallama@gmail.com +233555275880

References
Daily Trust, "Tinubu orders arrest as fake agency is detected in SGF's office" https://dailytrust.com/breaking-tinubu-orders-arrest-as-fake-agency-is-detected-in-sgfs-office/

Channels Television, "Tinubu Orders Arrest, Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries As ICPC Uncovers Another 'Fake' Agency" https://www.channelstv.com/2026/08/21/breaking-pfipc-icpc-uncovers-another-fake-agency/

Saara Reporters, "Tinubu Orders Arrest Of Fake Agency Promoter, Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries After ICPC Discovery" https://saharareporters.com/2026/08/21/breaking-tinubu-orders-arrest-fake-agency-promoter-suspends-three-permanent-secretaries

Leadership, "Tinubu Orders Nwabueze's Arrest, Suspends 3 Perm Secs Over Another Fake Agency" https://leadership.ng/breaking-tinubu-orders-nwabuezes-arrest-suspends-3-perm-secs-over-another-fake-agency/

Premium Times, "Tinubu suspends three permanent secretaries over fresh fake agency, orders alleged promoter's arrest" https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/904543-tinubu-suspends-three-permanent-secretaries-over-fresh-fake-agency-orders-alleged-alleged-promoters-arrest.html

Tribune Online, "Tinubu suspends three perm secs as another fake agency uncovered" https://tribuneonlineng.com/breaking-tinubu-suspends-three-perm-secs-as-another-fake-agency-uncovered/

ABC News, "Nigeria orders investigation into second fake government agency" https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/nigeria-orders-investigation-fake-government-agency-135851908

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