The Senate has rejected a motion seeking a comprehensive investigation into the budgetary allocation, operations and controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The motion was moved by Senator Suleiman Kawu, representing Kano South, who cited Order 9 and Rule 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders in seeking legislative intervention.
Presenting the motion during plenary on Wednesday, Kawu said it was 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.”
“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),” he said.
However, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, ruled that the matter should not be debated, noting that the Executive had already initiated an investigation.
He informed lawmakers that President Bola Tinubu had directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the allegations surrounding the council.
Jibrin urged senators to allow the investigation to run its course, stressing that the Senate should avoid duplicating the work of the Executive and instead focus on its legislative responsibilities.
Following his ruling, the motion was stepped down, leaving the ICPC to continue its investigation into the controversy surrounding the purported council.