The Nigerian Senate has distanced itself from the controversy surrounding the ₦1.3 billion appropriated for the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the 2026 budget. Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu stated that lawmakers cannot be held responsible for the budget line, which was neither recommended nor inserted by the National Assembly.
Senate Spokesperson Clarifies Legislative Role
Adaramodu explained that the National Assembly is not constitutionally responsible for conducting security checks on individuals appointed to head government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). He made this known on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, while briefing journalists in his office at the National Assembly shortly after plenary, as reported by Premium Times.
“The budget line being referred to was not created or inserted by the National Assembly, and it is not the duty of the Senate or the House of Representatives to carry out security checks on those supposedly appointed to head the various MDAs,” Adaramodu said.
National Assembly Will Not Intervene in Court Case
The senator disclosed that the National Assembly would not intervene in the dispute between the director-general of the agency, Adeniyi Adeyemi, and Femi Gbajabiamila, as the matter is already before the court. He argued that the controversies are within the executive branch and should be resolved by it.
According to Adaramodu, the issue could only have been linked to the National Assembly if the Senate had screened and confirmed the controversial director-general. “If the alleged fake DG were to be one of the presidential appointees screened and confirmed by the Senate, the controversy might have been perceived to be somewhat linked to us,” he stated.
He added that if a petition is sent to the Senate by any of the feuding parties or any concerned Nigerian regarding the existence or non-existence of an agency or DG, it will be legislatively looked into.
Arewa Youths React to Presidency's Exoneration of Gbajabiamila
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) praised the State House for exonerating Gbajabiamila from the PFIPC allegations. AYCF leader Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu commended Gbajabiamila’s whistle-blowing role in exposing a forgery scam in the fictitious PFIPC. The group urged politicians to avoid politicizing the ongoing legal case against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.
Former Minister Criticizes Presidency's Response
Former Minister Solomon Dalung criticized the Presidency’s response defending Gbajabiamila over the alleged fake presidential agency scandal. Dalung questioned how a fictitious agency allegedly entered the national budget, operated from the Federal Secretariat, and obtained a CBN account undetected. He called on the Presidency to release documentary evidence, timelines, and official records explaining institutional failures in the matter.
