Tinubu Orders Arrest, Suspends Three Permanent Secretaries Over Alleged Fake Agency at SGF Office
ICPC Uncovers Unauthorised National Brands Office.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu Democracy Newsline
August 22, 2026.
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and directed the suspension of three Permanent Secretaries following the discovery of an allegedly unauthorised government office operating within the complex of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The development followed an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which uncovered what it described as the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office allegedly operating from the SGF’s office without presidential authorisation.
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The ICPC said the discovery exposed further weaknesses in government administrative and verification procedures, coming on the heels of its investigation into the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed the latest findings on Friday while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Aliyu, the commission’s investigation revealed that the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office had allegedly been allocated office space within the SGF complex despite having no known presidential approval for its establishment or operation.
The ICPC chairman identified Prince George Buchi Nwabueze as the alleged promoter of the organisation. The commission also indicated that individuals within the SGF’s office may have facilitated the organisation’s presence and activities within the government complex.
The discovery has raised fresh concerns about the effectiveness of internal controls within government institutions and the possibility that individuals or organisations could gain access to official facilities without the necessary approvals.
Following the ICPC briefing, President Tinubu ordered the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and directed the suspension of three Permanent Secretaries in connection with the unfolding investigation.
The affected officials are:
M. S. Danjuma
Engineer Nadungu Gagare
Richard P. Pheelangwah
The suspensions are expected to enable investigators to conduct a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the alleged establishment and operation of the office, including how it obtained access to government premises and whether official procedures were bypassed.
The latest discovery is particularly significant because it emerged from an investigation into the earlier alleged fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The ICPC’s findings suggest that the investigation has moved beyond a single suspected fake entity to broader questions concerning how government offices, projects and agencies are created, recognised and granted access to official facilities.
The commission is continuing its investigation and is expected to determine the extent of the alleged activities, identify all persons involved and establish whether public officials abused their positions or facilitated the operation of the unauthorised office.
President Tinubu has also directed a forensic audit of government processes, a move aimed at identifying loopholes that could allow unauthorised organisations to operate within government structures.
The audit is expected to examine existing approval mechanisms, verification procedures, allocation of office spaces and the responsibilities of officials charged with safeguarding government facilities and administrative processes.
The development could have wider implications for Nigeria’s public service, particularly at a time when the Federal Government is intensifying its anti-corruption drive and emphasising accountability in the management of public institutions.
The alleged presence of an unauthorised organisation inside a major government complex raises questions about institutional oversight and the checks required before individuals or groups are allowed to present themselves as government-backed bodies.
For the Tinubu administration, the investigation also presents an opportunity to strengthen administrative controls and ensure that government agencies, councils, projects and special offices cannot be created or presented as official entities without proper approval.
The ICPC said its investigation remains ongoing. Further arrests, disciplinary actions or additional revelations could therefore follow as investigators examine the activities of the alleged office and its suspected collaborators.
The case is also expected to draw renewed attention to the need for stronger verification systems across government, particularly where the creation of special projects, councils and intervention programmes is concerned.
Until the investigation is concluded, allegations against the individuals involved remain subject to due process and the determination of the appropriate authorities.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER 21ST AUGUST, 2026)
