Nigeria orders investigation into second fake government agency

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation into a man accused of establishing and managing a fraudulent government agency, marking the second such agency uncovered in recent weeks. Musa Adamu Aliyu, head of the country's corruption watchdog, briefed the president in Abuja on the matter. The latest fake agency, known as the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, functioned illegally from a government office under the leadership of George Buchi Nwabueze, according to authorities.

This scandal adds to a series of alleged fraudulent government agencies under Tinubu's leadership. In a previous incident last month, authorities discovered another purported agency, the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, which had been operational for years. The director of this fake agency met with government officials and accessed public funds.

The individual responsible for creating the first bogus agency has been arrested by police. Aliyu stated that the investigation into the initial agency led to the discovery of the second. Experts believe the perpetrators are collaborating with senior government officials to pilfer money from the national budget. However, it remains unclear whether the accused man profited from the scheme before its unveiling.

Three senior government officials have been suspended, and an arrest warrant has been issued for Nwabueze.