The Senate on Wednesday blocked an attempt to initiate a legislative investigation into the controversial ₦1.3 billion allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The motion, moved by Senator Kawu Sumaila (Kano South), was halted during plenary by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session.
Moving the motion, Sumaila questioned how an organisation that the Presidency has since described as “fake” and non-existent was able to secure a budgetary allocation exceeding ₦1.3 billion.
According to him, the issue raises serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s budget preparation and approval process.
“This matter needs to be investigated,” Sumaila said.
He argued that beyond the controversial allocation itself, Nigerians deserved an explanation as to how an entity now disowned by the Presidency passed through both executive budget formulation and legislative scrutiny without being flag
The lawmaker urged the Senate leadership to refer the matter to the appropriate standing committee for a thorough investigation.
However, Barau declined the request, citing an ongoing investigation already ordered by President Bola Tinubu.
“The Presidency has directed the ICPC to investigate the scandal surrounding the PFIPC,” Barau said.
“The Senate needs to wait for the outcome of the investigation before it can take any action,” he added.
Barau subsequently disallowed further debate on the motion and brought the matter to a close.
The PFIPC controversy erupted following conflicting claims over the existence and legitimacy of the council.
While the Presidency described the body as “fake” and non-existent, its purported Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, publicly challenged that position, insisting that the organisation was legitimate.
The controversy deepened after Adeyemi alleged that the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, collected ₦400 million from him to facilitate his appointment as head of the council.
Gbajabiamila has firmly denied the allegation, maintaining that he neither received any money from Adeyemi nor played any role in securing such an appointment.
In response to the growing public outcry, President Tinubu on Tuesday directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted.
Adeyemi has indicated his willingness to cooperate with investigators. Nevertheless, the planned ICPC probe has continued to attract scepticism from opposition parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, who have questioned the credibility and independence of the investigation.
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