The Senate on Wednesday declined to launch a comprehensive investigation into the controversial budgetary allocation and operations of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), opting instead to await the outcome of an ongoing executive probe.

The proposal for a legislative investigation was raised during plenary by Senator Suleiman Kawu, who represents Kano South Senatorial District.

Relying on Order 9 and Rule 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders 2026, Kawu presented a motion titled, “Urgent Need to Investigate the Budgetary Allocation, Operations, and Controversy Surrounding the Purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) to Safeguard the Integrity of the Senate and the Federal Government.”

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Presenting his motion, Kawu expressed concern over the growing controversy surrounding the PFIPC, arguing that the matter had raised questions about the credibility of the National Assembly and the integrity of the federal budget process.

He said the allegations surrounding the council threatened the Senate’s constitutional responsibilities, particularly its powers over appropriation and oversight.

“The Senate notes with concern that, in recent weeks, the public space has been inundated with allegations, controversies, accusations and counter-accusations concerning an entity known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC),” Kawu said.

The lawmaker urged the Senate to condemn what he described as administrative failures or possible fraudulent activities that allegedly enabled an entity said to be unauthorised to secure a place in the 2026 Appropriation Act under Budget Code 0111062001.

Kawu also proposed that the Senate Committees on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, alongside the Committee on Appropriations, investigate how the allocation of ₦1,302,978,784 was proposed, scrutinised and eventually approved.

In addition, he sought a detailed inquiry into the ministries, departments, agencies and public officials allegedly involved in facilitating the council’s inclusion in the national budget.

The senator further requested that investigators determine whether any funds had been released or spent under the budget line and whether any bank accounts had been opened or operated in connection with the allocation.

However, the motion did not proceed to debate after the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, ruled against it.

Barau informed lawmakers that the matter was already under investigation by the executive arm of government following a directive from President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, the President had instructed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the controversy surrounding the PFIPC.

He advised the Senate to await the outcome of the executive investigation before considering any legislative action on the matter.

The decision effectively puts any Senate-led probe on hold pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation by the anti-corruption agency.