President Bola Tinubu has directed an investigation into the activities of a man accused of establishing and operating a fictitious government agency, following the discovery of a second suspected fake agency within weeks.
Musa Adamu Aliyu, the chairman of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, disclosed the development after briefing the President in Abuja on Friday.
According to authorities, the latest organisation, known as the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, was operating unlawfully from a government facility.
George Buchi Nwabueze was identified as the individual allegedly in charge of the outfit.
The development represents the second case of an alleged fraudulent government agency to emerge under the Tinubu administration in recent weeks.
In the previous month, authorities uncovered the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, an organisation that had reportedly operated for several years. Its director was said to have interacted with government officials and gained access to public funds.
Aliyu said the investigation into the first suspected fake agency ultimately uncovered the existence of the second. The individual accused of setting up the initial organisation was subsequently arrested by the police.
Analysts have suggested that the alleged operators may have relied on connections with senior government officials to gain legitimacy and potentially divert funds allocated through the national budget.
Aliyu, however, did not disclose whether the latest suspect had made any financial gains from the alleged operation before authorities uncovered it.
Meanwhile, three senior government officials have been suspended in connection with the matter, while an arrest warrant has been issued for Nwabueze.
