Again Senate rejects bid to investigate N1.3bn budget for ‘fake agency’

The Senate on Wednesday, for the second time, turned down a motion seeking an investigation into the N1.3 billion appropriated for the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

The motion failed after the majority of senators opposed it through a voice vote during plenary.

Sumaila Kawu who represents Kano South Senatorial District, sponsored the motion, urging the Senate to investigate how the allocation found its way into the budget.

However, the proposal was stepped down on the grounds that the matter is already before the courts and is being investigated by the Presidency.

Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, ruled that launching a parliamentary investigation at this stage could interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings.

“The fake agency that has been making rounds. Unfortunately the issue is overtaken by events. The culprit has been charged to court and so it will become subjudice.

The president has set up a high powered committee to investigate the subject matter from the formation of the fake agency all the way to budgetary and offices and opening of accounts and all that. So, that it also being done.

“If we go into it now, we will probably be jumping the gun because the prosecution is ongoing,” he said.

The latest decision marks the second occasion the upper chamber has declined to investigate the controversial budget allocation.

During the first attempt, Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President, who presided over plenary, ruled against the motion, citing President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the issue.

Despite the ruling, Kawu maintained that the Senate could not dissociate itself from the controversy because it approved the budget containing the allocation.

Although Senate Standing Orders, particularly Order 47, discourage debate on matters pending before the courts, the National Assembly retains constitutional oversight powers to conduct investigations, provided such inquiries do not prejudice ongoing judicial proceedings.

The controversy centres on Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly forged government appointment letters and presented himself as the Director-General of the fictitious agency. He was arrested by the police following a court order.

The police subsequently arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi and two others before the Federal High Court on an eight-count charge.

The case, filed on November 27, 2025, is scheduled for hearing on July 27. However, Adeyemi had reportedly remained in hiding after he was declared wanted.

Meanwhile, Yemi Adaramodu, Senate spokesperson representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, had earlier defended the National Assembly’s role in the budget process, insisting lawmakers neither proposed nor inserted the N1.3 billion allocation.

He also argued that legislators are not constitutionally responsible for conducting background checks on individuals appointed to head ministries, departments and agencies and therefore should not be blamed for the controversy.

Adaramodu further maintained that the Senate would not intervene in the matter because it is already before the court.