The Coalition for Truth and Justice has called on the Federal Government to investigate the legal status and operations of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following reports that the entity appeared in the 2026 budget with an allocation exceeding N1 billion. The group also defended Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, arguing that allegations linking him to the controversy are unfounded after he publicly denied knowledge of the council.
Group Challenges PFIPC Legitimacy
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the coalition challenged claims by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi that he serves as Director General of the PFIPC. In a statement signed by Convener Chief Henry Abba, Secretary Dr. Emeka Theodore, and Programmes Director Abdulhahi Sarki Barki, the group maintained that there is no evidence the council was lawfully established under President Bola Tinubu's administration.
“Public institutions are not created by press releases, while presidential appointments are not validated by social media claims. Agencies of government are not brought into existence by strident personal insistence,” the statement said.
No Evidence of Legal Creation
The coalition stated that it found no evidence showing the council was created through a Federal Government Gazette, formally inaugurated by the Presidency, or backed by appointment letters issued through recognised government channels. “An illegal structure does not become legal merely because it appears in some official-looking corner. A questionable entity does not become a lawful agency because it wrangled its way into a budget document,” the coalition added.
Budget Allocation Raises Concerns
The group expressed concern over reports that PFIPC, or a combined Presidential Economic Advisory Council and Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, appeared in the 2026 Appropriation records under the Presidency with an allocation reportedly exceeding N1 billion. The coalition said this raises serious concerns about the integrity of the budget process and called for a detailed investigation into how the entity was included in government records.
Demands for Investigation
The coalition asked authorities to clarify the legal basis for the council, disclose records relating to its establishment and appointments, and determine whether any public funds had been released in its name. It urged President Tinubu to order a full investigation, while calling on the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the National Assembly, and anti-corruption agencies to establish the true status of the council and examine any financial transactions linked to it.
Defense of Gbajabiamila
The group defended Gbajabiamila, arguing that attempts to associate him with claims surrounding the council were unfounded after he publicly denied knowledge of the organisation and its alleged appointments. Earlier, the Arewa Youth Integrity Forum (AYIF) had criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for demanding Gbajabiamila's resignation over bribery allegations, describing Atiku's position as inconsistent since the allegations have yet to be investigated and proven.
