The Senate has postponed further action on issues surrounding the alleged activities of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), stating that it will await the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The decision was announced during plenary at the National Assembly in Abuja, where lawmakers agreed that any legislative action should be guided by the findings of the anti-corruption agency.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the upper chamber would refrain from taking any steps that could interfere with the investigation, stressing the need to allow due process to run its course.
“We will await the outcome of the ICPC investigation before taking any further action on this matter.”
“Our responsibility is to ensure that justice is served while respecting the ongoing investigative process.”
The controversy centres on allegations surrounding the PFIPC, an organisation said to have operated without legal backing, as well as claims of forgery, impersonation and fraudulent representation involving individuals linked to the body.
Lawmakers noted that allowing the ICPC to complete its investigation would provide the Senate with verified facts needed to determine whether additional legislative or oversight measures were necessary.
The development follows a series of investigations by security agencies into the activities of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly presented himself as the head of a non-existent presidential council using forged government documents. The Presidency has consistently maintained that the organisation has no legal status and has distanced itself from its activities.
Senators emphasised the importance of protecting the integrity of public institutions and ensuring that anyone found culpable is held accountable in accordance with the law.
The Senate also reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, assuring Nigerians that it would carefully review the ICPC’s findings once the investigation is concluded before deciding on the next course of action.
The decision underscores the National Assembly’s resolve to avoid premature conclusions while supporting ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to establish the facts surrounding the PFIPC controversy.
