LAGOS, Nigeria – Investigative journalist David Hundeyin has brought to light a series of alleged financial irregularities involving the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nigeria. His findings shared on X (formerly Twitter), detail suspicious payments amounting to millions of dollars and raise questions about USAID’s transparency and compliance with federal directives.
Alleged Misuse of U.S. Taxpayer Funds
Hundeyin’s investigation reveals that on January 16, 2025—just four days before Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration—USAID authorized a $3.3 million payment to DAI Global LLC, a vendor registered in Bethesda, Maryland, operating in Nigeria.
Further analysis uncovered that between August 2020 and January 2025, DAI Global LLC received at least $48 million of U.S. taxpayers’ money under the guise of investments in Nigeria. However, Hundeyin described the organization as a seemingly inactive “climate NGO” that primarily hosted meetings, seminars, and photo opportunities with politicians. Despite these limited activities, its payments from USAID were labeled as “All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.”
According to the journalist, the last public output from DAI Global LLC in Nigeria was in 2020, raising questions about why the organization continued to receive large sums of money. Hundeyin speculated whether the payments indicated a money laundering scheme, a CIA front, or a slush fund managed by the U.S. State Department.
Defying a Presidential Order
The controversy deepened following Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, when USAID continued disbursing funds despite the president’s directive to halt all foreign aid payments. Between January 20 and January 30, at least $799,000 was sent to undisclosed recipients in Nigeria, with $446,000 transferred across eight payments on January 29 and January 30 alone.
These transactions took place despite Trump’s order on January 28 instructing USAID to freeze payments. The agency’s decision to continue disbursing funds has fueled suspicions about its financial operations in Nigeria and its possible defiance of executive authority.
Elon Musk Joins the Attack on USAID
Elon Musk publicly condemned USAID, labeling it a “criminal organization.”
His comments came after Trump implemented a three-month freeze on foreign aid spending, citing the need to curb government waste.
Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been tasked with reducing unnecessary government expenditures, with USAID now reportedly under scrutiny.
Musk’s criticism intensified when he claimed, without evidence, that USAID had used taxpayer funds to finance bioweapon research, including COVID-19, which he alleged resulted in millions of deaths.
“Did you know that USAID, using YOUR tax dollars, funded bioweapon research, including Covid-19, that killed millions of people?” Musk posted to his 215 million followers on X.
Political Fallout and Investigations
The controversy has led to significant backlash, with USAID’s official X account being deactivated and its website going offline. The agency, which operates on a $42.8 billion annual budget dedicated to global humanitarian and development aid, has not issued an official response to the allegations.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has criticized the Trump administration’s handling of USAID, warning of the potential “total destruction” of the agency.
Additionally, CNN reported that two senior security officials at USAID were placed on forced leave after they refused to grant DOGE representatives access to classified documents and personnel records.
There are also reports that the Trump administration is considering integrating USAID into the State Department, further limiting its autonomy. However, no official statement has been made regarding the agency’s future.
As scrutiny over USAID’s financial activities intensifies, questions remain about whether these revelations will lead to further investigations or policy changes concerning U.S. foreign aid distribution.
