By Rukevwe odeh

The Nigerian Senate is expected to examine the controversial ₦1.3 billion budgetary allocation made to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) when lawmakers reconvene for plenary on Tuesday, following allegations that the agency was created and operated using forged official documents.

According to sources within the Presidency and the civil service, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew allegedly presented a falsified appointment letter bearing the forged signature of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to secure office space at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. The document reportedly gave the impression that the council was a legitimate government institution.

The sources claimed the forged document escaped proper verification across several government institutions, enabling the council to interact with ministries, diplomatic missions, lawmakers and private organisations. They argued that stricter administrative checks by relevant agencies could have prevented the situation.

A source at the National Assembly disclosed that the ₦1.3 billion allocation was reportedly included in the 2026 Appropriation Act without any representative of the council appearing before the Senate committee responsible for budget defence. The source added that senators are expected to discuss the matter during the next plenary session.

Presidency officials also maintained that appointments to agencies under the Presidency can only be made by the President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, not by the Chief of Staff. They described the appointment letter allegedly used by Adeyemi as fraudulent.

Further reports indicate that concerns about the council first surfaced in October 2025 after the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission reportedly observed that the body was carrying out functions already assigned to it by law. The matter was said to have been reported to the Chief of Staff, who denied any involvement and alerted security agencies, leading to investigations and the suspect’s arraignment.

The controversy has attracted widespread reactions from civil society organisations and political figures. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the National Assembly to disclose all records relating to the disputed allocation, while other advocacy groups have demanded a transparent investigation into how public funds were approved for an agency the Presidency says does not legally exist.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also urged the Federal Government to conduct an independent investigation into the matter. However, Deputy House of Representatives spokesman Philip Agbese appealed for patience, insisting that due process should be allowed to take its course. Some legal experts have also cautioned against drawing conclusions before investigations are completed.

Adeyemi is expected to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 27 alongside two other suspects who remain at large as investigations continue.