Senate Declines to Wade into PFIPC Controversy, Says No Petition Before It

The Senate on Tuesday said it would not intervene in the controversy surrounding the alleged existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), insisting that no formal petition has been submitted to warrant legislative action.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), made the clarification while speaking with journalists after plenary.

The controversy erupted following conflicting claims between the purported Director-General of the PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, and the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila.

While the Chief of Staff has disowned both the agency and Mathew, describing the PFIPC as non-existent, the latter has insisted that the council is known to the Presidency. He also alleged that Gbajabiamila collected ₦400 million from him in connection with his appointment and later demanded 48 per cent of the ₦1.3 billion reportedly appropriated to the agency in the 2026 budget.

Responding to questions on the matter, Adaramodu said the Senate had no petition before it from either of the parties or any Nigerian seeking legislative intervention.

“As far as the Senate is concerned, there is no petition before us from any of the feuding parties or any concerned Nigerian that would require us to investigate or comment on the matter,” he said.

The Senate spokesman acknowledged reports that the agency has a budget line in the 2026 Appropriation Act, but maintained that the issue is an executive matter and should be addressed by the appropriate authorities within the executive arm of government.

He also noted that the matter is already before the court, making it inappropriate for the Senate to interfere.

According to Adaramodu, the National Assembly neither created the agency nor inserted its budgetary allocation into the appropriation law.

“It is not the responsibility of the Senate or the House of Representatives to conduct security checks on individuals appointed to head ministries, departments or agencies,” he said.

He explained that if the individual involved had been a presidential nominee requiring Senate confirmation, the upper chamber might have had a direct role in the matter.

Adaramodu, however, said the Senate would not hesitate to exercise its oversight responsibilities if a formal petition is received.

“If any of the parties involved or any concerned Nigerian submits a petition on the existence or otherwise of the agency or its Director-General, the Senate will consider it in line with its legislative responsibilities,” he added.