The Senate on Wednesday turned down a motion seeking a full investigation into the controversial ₦1.3 billion budget allocation and activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
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The motion was moved during plenary by Senator Suleiman Kawu, representing Kano South, who raised the matter under Order 9 and Rule 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders (2026).
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Kawu argued that the controversy surrounding the council had raised serious concerns about the integrity of the Senate, the credibility of the National Assembly and the legislature’s constitutional role in budget approval and oversight.
LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
He noted that public attention had recently focused on allegations and conflicting claims regarding the existence and operations of the PFIPC.
The senator called on the Senate to condemn the administrative failures or possible fraudulent actions that allegedly allowed an entity said to have no legal backing to appear in the 2026 Appropriation Act under Budget Code 0111062001.
He also sought the approval of the Senate for its Committees on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, as well as Appropriations, to investigate how the PFIPC secured a budget allocation of ₦1,302,978,784.
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The proposed investigation was also expected to determine how the allocation was proposed, examined, defended and eventually approved during the budget process.
Kawu further requested that the committees identify the ministries, departments, agencies and public officials involved in facilitating the council’s inclusion in the national budget.
He also wanted the investigation to establish whether any funds had been released, spent or committed under the budget line and whether any bank accounts had been opened or operated in connection with the allocation.
However, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, advised against debating the motion.
Barau explained that the Executive had already taken action after President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.
He urged the Senate to allow the ongoing investigation by the Executive to run its course instead of commencing a separate legislative inquiry.
The Senate consequently declined to proceed with the proposed investigation.
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