Senate Shuts Down Fresh Push to Probe PFIPC Scandal, Says Matter Already Before Court

By Yinka Giwa
The Senate on Wednesday firmly rejected renewed attempts to launch a legislative investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) saga, insisting that the matter is now before the courts and therefore beyond the scope of parliamentary inquiry.

For the second time in one week, the upper chamber declined a motion by Senator Suleiman Kawu seeking an independent Senate probe into the activities of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the disputed Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PEAC/PFIPC).

The controversy, which has dominated national discourse in recent weeks, centres on allegations that Adeyemi forged presidential appointment documents and falsely represented himself as head of a non-existent federal agency.

Ruling on the motion, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said it would be inappropriate for lawmakers to initiate a parallel investigation since criminal proceedings had already commenced and President Bola Tinubu had directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations.

“In my view, the issue has been overtaken by events as the culprit has been charged to court. It is now sub judice to attempt to go into it again. Mr President has already directed an investigation. If we go into it now, we will probably be jumping the gun,” Akpabio ruled.

The Senate President’s decision effectively shut the door on growing pressure for lawmakers to independently investigate the fake agency and the circumstances that enabled it to operate while the matter remains before the courts.

Despite the ruling, Senator Kawu argued that the National Assembly retains a constitutional oversight responsibility that is independent of actions taken by the Executive.

He maintained that a legislative investigation was necessary notwithstanding the ongoing criminal prosecution and the ICPC investigation ordered by the President.

The Senate, however, refused to entertain the motion.

The decision came after police secured an arrest order against Adeyemi from Justice Umar of the Federal High Court following an oral application by prosecuting counsel, Wisdom Madaki.

Adeyemi, who failed to appear for arraignment, is expected to be produced before the court on September 30 to answer an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud, and impersonation.

According to the charges, he allegedly forged an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, in order to present himself as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.

He is also accused of forging official State House letterheads and other presidential documents, including a request for office accommodation, while opening multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.

Before his prosecution, Adeyemi had publicly presented himself as head of the council, appearing with prominent Nigerians in photographs circulated on social media and claiming to have been appointed by the President.

He also alleged that he paid money to Gbajabiamila to secure the appointment, an allegation the Presidency categorically denied.

During an appearance on Politics Today, Adeyemi said he was prepared to allow the judicial process to determine his fate.

Amid the public outcry generated by the scandal, President Tinubu directed the ICPC to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged forgery of presidential appointment letters and other official documents, the false claim of presidential authority to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, and other related allegations.

With the Senate now declining to intervene, attention has shifted to the courts and the anti-corruption commission, whose investigations are expected to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud and those, if any, who may have aided it.