The Senate has declined to open a separate investigation into the controversial N1.3bn allocation made to the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), opting instead to wait for the outcome of an ongoing probe by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The decision was reached during Wednesday’s plenary after Senator representing Kano South, Kawu Sumaila, raised concerns over how an agency described by the Presidency as non-existent was allocated funds in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Sumaila had urged the Senate to investigate the circumstances surrounding the inclusion of the N1,302,978,000 allocation under budget code 0111062001, arguing that the development raised questions about the integrity of the country’s budget process.
However, as he began presenting his point of order, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over proceedings, interrupted him, stating that the matter should have been brought before the chamber through a substantive motion.
In his submission, Sumaila said the controversy surrounding the PFIPC had created serious concerns about the credibility of the National Assembly’s oversight responsibilities and the transparency of the appropriation process.
“I rise today under Order 9 and Rule 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2026, to draw the attention of this Hallowed Chamber to a matter of grave institutional concern.
“The issues raised directly affect the integrity of the Senate, the credibility of the National Assembly and the effective exercise of our constitutional oversight and appropriation responsibilities.
Notwithstanding the executive’s public disapproval of this agency, the entirety was incorporated in the 2026 Appropriation Act under Code 0111062001 with a budgetary allocation of N1,302,978,000, thereby raising a serious question regarding the integrity of the budget preparation and appropriation process,” he stated.
The senator explained that the allocation included over N800m for personnel expenses, more than N200m for overhead costs, and above N300m for capital expenditure.
He argued that approving funds for an agency the government had publicly denied establishing could weaken public trust in the budgeting system and expose gaps in legislative oversight.
Sumaila subsequently called on the Senate Committees on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, as well as Appropriations, to investigate the process through which the allocation was proposed, reviewed, justified and eventually approved.
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He also requested an inquiry into whether any money had been released, spent or committed under the budget line, and whether any bank accounts had been created or operated in relation to the allocation.
However, the Senate leadership rejected the proposal, saying it was necessary to allow the ongoing ICPC investigation to run its course.
Barau explained that President Bola Tinubu had already directed the anti-corruption agency to investigate the matter and that the process had commenced.
“As I said earlier, the presidency has taken up this matter by directing that the ICPC should investigate fully how this matter came to be.
“And I think ICPC has started. I believe that what we need to do at this stage is to have the report of the ICPC, and then we can act on that report and deal with it as we feel appropriate,” Barau said.
The controversy surrounding the PFIPC emerged after President Tinubu ordered the ICPC to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the body, which the Presidency said was never created by the Federal Government and lacked any legal foundation.
The directive was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the ICPC was expected to submit its findings within 30 days.
The Presidency said the investigation would examine allegations involving forged appointment letters and government documents allegedly used by Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, who claimed to be the Director-General of the council and a presidential appointee.
It added that the probe would also look into claims that he used the alleged false identity to obtain official recognition and diplomatic assistance, including visa facilitation, as well as opened multiple bank accounts linked to purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
The investigation will further determine how the alleged fictitious organisation was able to gain public appearance and recognition.