“Heads Will Roll”, Says President Tinubu As Another Fake Government Agency Is Discovered
•••Ordered immediate arrest of George Nwabueze, suspend three Permanent Secretaries
By Matthias Ogbagah & Juliet Emajemite
ABUJA – President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has vowed that “Heads will roll” as another fake government agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, is discovered, and he ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze.
It would be recalled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Friday said it uncovered another fake agency operating in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Musa Adamu Aliyu, identified the man behind the fake agency, “National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office,” as George Buchi Nwabueze.
Irked by the development, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze over the alleged illegal operation and approved the suspension of three Permanent Secretaries in connection with the fresh findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
According to the directive, Nwabueze was allegedly running a bogus agency from within the premises of the OSGF, exploiting weaknesses in public service processes to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians and businesses.
President Tinubu directed security agencies to effect the immediate arrest of individuals involved and ensure that Nwabueze is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Alongside the arrest order, the President also ordered the immediate suspension of three Permanent Secretaries.
The Rainbow Newspaper learned that the suspension followed an ICPC investigation into the proliferation of fake government agencies and lapses that allowed them to operate undetected within federal institutions.
A Presidency source said the affected officials will remain on suspension pending the outcome of further investigations and administrative procedures.
Reacting to the development, the Presidency warned that more sanctions are coming and that those found complicit will face the full weight of the law.
“Heads will roll. This administration will not tolerate impersonation of government institutions or the sabotage of public service processes,” a senior Presidency official stated.
The official added that President Tinubu has directed a comprehensive audit of all agencies, parastatals and departments under the OSGF to identify and dismantle any other fraudulent entities.
The ICPC investigation was launched to probe the rise of fake agencies that issue fake appointment letters, contracts and approvals to defraud citizens.
The Commission’s preliminary report highlighted significant gaps in vetting, oversight and record-keeping within the public service that enabled the illegal operations.
