The Senate on Tuesday said it would not intervene in the controversy surrounding the alleged existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and its purported Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, insisting that no formal petition has been submitted to the National Assembly on the matter.
The upper chamber’s position comes amid escalating allegations and counter-allegations between the Presidency and Adeyemi over the status of the agency, which the Federal Government has described as non-existent.
Speaking with journalists after plenary, Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), said the matter remains an executive affair and does not currently warrant legislative action.
According to him, the Senate has not received any petition from the parties involved or from concerned Nigerians seeking its intervention.
“There is no petition before the Senate on the matter. The allegations and counter-allegations over the alleged fake agency and fake Director-General are all within the executive arm of government and should be resolved there,” Adaramodu said.
The controversy erupted after the Presidency disowned the PFIPC, with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, reportedly raising concerns over the agency’s legitimacy and the status of its purported chief executive.
Adeyemi, however, rejected the claims, insisting that the agency was known within government circles.
He further alleged that he paid ₦400 million for his appointment and that demands were made for a share of funds appropriated for the agency in the 2026 budget claims that have generated widespread public debate.
Responding to questions on reports that the agency had a budgetary allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act, Adaramodu clarified that the National Assembly was not responsible for creating government agencies or appointing their leadership.
“The budget line being referred to was not created or inserted by the National Assembly, and it is not the responsibility of the Senate or the House of Representatives to conduct security checks on persons purportedly appointed to head ministries, departments or agencies,” he said.
The senator explained that the Senate’s role would have been different if the position in question required legislative screening and confirmation.
Adaramodu also noted that the matter is already the subject of legal proceedings, making it difficult for the Senate to comment extensively in line with parliamentary rules on issues before the courts.
Nevertheless, he said the Senate remains open to investigating the matter if a formal complaint is lodged.
“If the alleged Director-General was one of the presidential appointees screened and confirmed by the Senate, the controversy could have had some connection with us. That is not the case here,” he added.
“Should any of the parties involved or any concerned Nigerian submit a petition to the Senate regarding the existence or otherwise of the agency or its leadership, the matter will be considered and addressed through the appropriate legislative processes,” he stated.
The Senate’s position comes a day after President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the alleged fake agency, the use of forged government documents and all individuals connected to the controversy, with a report expected within 30 days.
The development has continued to attract public attention, particularly over questions surrounding the agency’s purported budget allocation and the circumstances that enabled it to operate with an appearance of official recognition.
