The Senate has again declined a motion seeking an investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), citing ongoing judicial and anti-corruption investigations into the matter.

The motion, sponsored by Senator Kawu Sumaila, was rejected during plenary after Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled that the National Assembly should not interfere in issues already before the courts and under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Sumaila had argued that a legislative probe was necessary to protect the integrity of the Senate and the federal budget process following allegations surrounding the PFIPC, which the Presidency has described as a non-existent agency.

Meanwhile, African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar criticised the Federal Government over a ₦6.44 billion budget allocation for a “Special Presidential Support Group for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.”

Atiku questioned the rationale behind the allocation, noting that Nigeria had already been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers before the 2026 budget was prepared and approved.

He described the expenditure as questionable and called on the government to explain who approved the allocation despite the country’s exit from the qualification campaign.

The former vice president also renewed calls for an independent and bipartisan investigation into the PFIPC controversy, arguing that executive-led investigations alone may not be sufficient to ensure accountability.

The latest developments have intensified scrutiny of the 2026 federal budget and renewed debate over transparency and oversight in public spending.