Senate rejects motion to probe PFIPC controversy

The Senate 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 raised by Senator Suleiman Kawu, representing Kano South, who cited Order 9 and Rule 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders (2026) while presenting a 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.”

 

Presenting the motion during plenary, Kawu said the Senate was concerned over the allegations, controversies, accusations and counter-accusations surrounding the entity, which has been at the centre of public debate in recent weeks.

 

“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),” he said.

 

However, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, ruled against debating the motion, saying the Executive had already commenced steps to address the matter.

 

Jibrin informed lawmakers that President Bola Tinubu had directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the controversy.

 

He urged the Senate to allow the ongoing investigation by the anti-corruption agency to run its course before taking further action.

 

The PFIPC controversy emerged after questions were raised over the existence of the council and its reported inclusion in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budgetary allocation, despite claims by the Presidency that the body was never established by the Federal Government.