Gbajabiamila gate scandal: Akpabio led Senate rejects legislative investigation twice in a row

By Kingston Magare 15.7.2026
The Godswill Akpabio lead Nigerian Senate Tuesday turned down a motion seeking an independent probe of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
This is the second time the Senate is shying away from discussing the agency, which it made provisions for in the 2026 budget even as the President Bola Tinubu’s administration has denied its existence.
The major character in the PFIPC saga Adeniyi Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State on Monday after he failed to appear in Court to face trial brought against him by the Nigeria Police.
Nigerians have called for an independent probe in the PFIPC, which Adeyemi claimed to have borrowed money to pay President Tinubu’s chief of staff Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila N400m to become its director-general. Hon. Gbajabiamila denied the allegations. Opposition figures have accused the government of trying to sweep the matter under the carpet.
During Tuesday’s plenary Senator Suleiman Kawu who made the first request for a legislative inquiry into the saga, brought it up again, under matters of urgent public importance.
But Senator Akpabio ruled that the Senate cannot launch a separate investigation when President Tinubu already ordered Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the case and report within 30 days.
“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 said.
Despite the Senate’s position, Kawu maintained that the National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility to carry out its own oversight, regardless of the executive’s actions.