Gbajabiamila-Adeyemi Saga: Why National Assembly appropriated ₦1.3bn for fake agency - Senate spokesperson

The Nigerian Senate has clarified its position regarding the ₦1.3 billion appropriated in the 2026 budget for the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The upper chamber stated that the budget line was neither recommended nor inserted by the National Assembly, asserting that lawmakers are not constitutionally mandated to conduct security checks on individuals appointed to head government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu explained that the controversy, which involves allegations of forged government appointment letters against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed to be the agency's director-general, falls within the purview of the executive branch. He emphasized that the dispute is primarily between Adeyemi and Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, and should be resolved by the executive.

Adaramodu further noted that the National Assembly would not intervene as the matter is already before the court. He added that the controversy could only be linked to the National Assembly if the Senate had screened and confirmed the alleged fake Director-General. However, he indicated that the Senate would investigate if a petition concerning the agency or its director-general is officially submitted.

The controversy has drawn significant criticism after Adeyemi was declared wanted for allegedly impersonating the DG of an agency the Presidency insists does not exist. The Presidency accused him of forging official documents to falsely present himself as the DG of both the PFIPC and the Presidential Executive Advisory Council (PEAC). The police have arraigned Adeyemi and two others on an eight-count charge, with the case scheduled for hearing on July 27. Adeyemi, however, remains in hiding and has denied the allegations, describing them as an attempt to silence him.

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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.