By Abigail David
The Senate of Nigeria on Wednesday rejected a motion seeking a comprehensive investigation into the budgetary allocation, operations and controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The motion was sponsored by Senator Suleiman Kawu, who raised the matter during plenary under the Senate Standing Orders.
Kawu argued that the controversy surrounding the PFIPC threatened the integrity of the Senate, the credibility of the National Assembly and the legislature’s constitutional oversight and appropriation responsibilities.
He called on the Senate to condemn the alleged administrative lapses or fraudulent actions that led to the inclusion of the purported council under Budget Code 0111062001 in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The lawmaker also sought a probe into how the budgetary allocation of ₦1,302,978,784 was proposed, scrutinised and approved, the officials and agencies responsible for its inclusion in the national budget, and whether any funds had been released or spent under the budget line.
However, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, declined to allow debate on the motion.
Jibrin said the Executive had already taken action on the matter, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the alleged scandal.
He urged senators to allow the Executive’s investigation to run its course rather than commence a separate legislative probe.
