SGF Project Office: Inside the Dispute Behind ICPC’s ‘Fake Agency’ Claim

By: Abudu Olalekan

The SGF project office controversy may have started with an internal disagreement—not the discovery of a secret government agency, as initially presented.

Reportersroom gathered that a dispute between George Nwabueze, promoter of the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, and some directors in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation may have triggered the petition that drew in the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

Several officials familiar with the matter said the directors reported Nwabueze to the ICPC after their working relationship broke down. The petition, they claimed, described the project office as an illegal government agency.

But insiders insist that description is wrong.

One official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to discuss the matter, said the office was created as a special project platform rather than a permanent federal agency.

“It is not a fake agency. It is a project office,” the official said, arguing that the commission was given the wrong impression about its status.

According to him, the disagreement between Nwabueze and the directors had been building for some time before the petition was submitted. He also accused the ICPC of moving too quickly without properly examining how the office was established or what it was meant to do.

A second official raised another question: if the office was fake, how did it operate within the OSGF from 2010 without being flagged?

The official maintained that the commission did not uncover a hidden agency, but acted on information supplied by individuals who had unresolved issues with Nwabueze.

More than a week later, no arrest

The ICPC had announced that President Bola Tinubu ordered Nwabueze’s arrest over the alleged operation of an unauthorised office.

Eight days later, however, no arrest had been made.

A senior source at the commission confirmed to Reportersroom that Nwabueze was not in custody, despite the earlier announcement.

“That’s all I can tell you,” the source said.

The commission has also not publicly provided further details about the status of the reported arrest order.

Nwabueze alleges sabotage from within

Nwabueze has rejected the claim that he ran an unauthorised government agency.

In a statement issued on his behalf by the Directorate of Legal Affairs and Strategic Communications, he described the organisation as an approved public-private special initiative operating under the supervision of the OSGF.

He also alleged that some serving and retired officials deliberately frustrated the project by suppressing official files and creating administrative roadblocks.

According to the statement, Nwabueze petitioned the SGF on May 15, 2026, over the alleged withholding of important documents. The affected files reportedly included one connected to Nigeria’s advance delegation to the Asia-Africa Summit 2026, as well as documents relating to sub-national energy programmes.

The disagreement has already moved to court.

Nwabueze filed Suit No. CV/2634/26 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. He said the case was brought in response to threats to remove the project from the OSGF and continued attempts to suppress its files.

His position is that the office cannot be forced out without following the proper administrative process. He also noted that the dispute is now before a court of competent jurisdiction and remains sub judice.

To support his claim that the project has official backing, Nwabueze cited Executive Orders 003 and 005, issued in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

He also referred to a supervisory letter from the Political and Economic Affairs Office of the OSGF, with reference number PS-PEAO/2025/008/4.

According to him, the correspondence approved the creation of a five-member technical committee to supervise the project’s development goals, monitoring system and public-private implementation structure.

ICPC and SGF yet to address fresh claims

Efforts by Reportersroom to obtain a detailed response from the ICPC were unsuccessful.

The commission’s spokesman, John Odeh, did not answer calls. He had also not responded to a message sent to him as of the time this report was filed.

Christopher Ugwuegbulam, spokesman for the SGF, declined to respond to the allegations without receiving a formal written request.

“If you want to get my reaction on the allegations, write to us,” he said.

How the controversy began

On August 21, the ICPC announced that it had uncovered what it described as another fake federal agency operating within the OSGF.

ICPC Chairman Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, made the announcement after briefing President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa.

Aliyu said the President ordered Nwabueze’s arrest and directed the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries in the SGF office over their alleged links to the project.

The affected officials were identified as MS Danjuma, Nandungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwa.

The ICPC said the discovery was made while investigating a separate body known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council. That organisation was allegedly promoted by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.

Presidency says investigation is not finished

The Presidency has asked Nigerians not to draw conclusions yet, saying the ICPC is still investigating how allegedly fictitious government bodies managed to operate within the SGF office.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Temitope Ajayi said the commission had submitted only a preliminary report.

According to him, President Tinubu expects the ICPC to complete its investigation and present clear recommendations on who may be responsible and how similar lapses can be prevented.

“The ICPC has not finished its work,” Ajayi told Reportersroom.

He said the President had directed the commission to identify weaknesses in the system and recommend ways to close those gaps.

For now, he added, Nigerians should allow the investigators to finish the job.

House of Representatives will not interfere

The House of Representatives is also unlikely to begin a separate investigation into Nwabueze’s project office.

Deputy House spokesman Philip Agbese said the matter was not currently before the chamber and that lawmakers would not interfere with an active ICPC investigation.

He urged Nigerians to allow the anti-corruption commission to carry out its responsibilities.

Agbese clarified that the matter already being considered by the House relates to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, not Nwabueze’s project office.

He said the ad hoc committee established to investigate the PFIPC allegations was close to completing its assignment.

For now, two sharply different accounts remain. The ICPC says it uncovered an unauthorised agency. Nwabueze and officials sympathetic to him insist it was a recognised project office caught in an internal power struggle.

The commission’s final report—and the pending court case—may determine which version holds up.