Senate rejects motion to probe ‘fake’ PFIPC ₦1.3bn budget

The Senate on Wednesday declined to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the budgetary allocation and operations of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The proposed probe was moved by Senator Suleiman Kawu (APC, Kano South), who raised the matter under Order 9 and Rule 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders (2026) during plenary.

Kawu’s motion, titled “Urgent Need to Investigate the Budgetary Allocation, Operations, and Controversy Surrounding the Purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) to Safeguard the Integrity of the Senate and the Federal Government,” highlighted concerns over the legitimacy of the council.

He warned that the ongoing controversy surrounding the PFIPC could undermine the integrity of the Senate, the credibility of the National Assembly, and the legislature’s constitutional oversight and appropriation responsibilities.

“The Senate notes with concern that, in recent weeks, the public space has been inundated with allegations, controversies, accusations, and counter-accusations concerning an entity known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC),” Kawu said.

In his prayers, the lawmaker urged the Senate to strongly condemn any administrative lapses, internal collaboration, or fraudulent actions that may have enabled a purportedly unauthorised entity—listed under Budget Code 0111062001—to be included in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

He further called on the Committees on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, as well as Appropriations, to conduct a thorough investigation into the inclusion of the PFIPC in the national budget.

According to Kawu, the probe should determine how the sum of ₦1,302,978,784 was proposed, scrutinised, justified, and approved; identify the ministries, departments, agencies, or individuals responsible; and establish whether any funds had been released, committed, or spent under the budget line, including the existence of any related bank accounts.

However, following the presentation, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who presided over the session, ruled against opening debate on the motion.

Jibrin argued that the matter was already being handled by the executive arm of government, noting that President Bola Tinubu had directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the issue.

He urged lawmakers to await the outcome of the executive’s probe.

More to come.