President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation into an alleged fake government agency operating from a government office in Abuja, marking the second such case uncovered in Nigeria within weeks.
The latest case centres on the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, which authorities say was not a legitimate government agency despite operating from official premises. It was allegedly headed by George Buchi Nwabueze.
The investigation was announced by Musa Adamu Aliyu, head of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, after he briefed President Tinubu on the discovery in Abuja on Friday.
The development follows the earlier exposure of another purported agency, the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, which authorities said had operated for years. Its director reportedly held meetings with government officials and gained access to public funds before the organisation was uncovered.
Aliyu said investigations into the first alleged fake agency eventually led authorities to the discovery of the second operation. The cases have raised concerns about how unauthorised organisations could establish themselves within government structures without being detected earlier.
Analysts cited in the report believe the alleged schemes may involve cooperation from senior government officials and could have been designed to divert money from Nigeria’s national budget. However, authorities have not established publicly whether Nwabueze or others made financial gains from the latest operation.
The government has already suspended three senior officials in connection with the broader investigation. Authorities have also issued an arrest warrant for Nwabueze as investigators work to establish how the alleged fake agency was created and how it was able to operate from government premises.
The latest investigation puts further pressure on government institutions to tighten checks around agencies operating under their names and prevent unauthorised bodies from accessing public offices, officials or funds.
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