Atiku Demands Explanation Over Alleged N1.3bn Budget Allocation to ‘Non-Existent’ Presidential Council

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to explain the reported allocation of N1.3 billion to the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

Atiku made the demand on Thursday while reacting to the Presidency’s claim that the PFIPC is a fictitious organisation and that its alleged Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, forged documents to portray himself as a presidential appointee.

Presidency Declares Council Fake

On Wednesday, the Presidency dismissed the PFIPC as a non-existent agency, accusing Adeyemi of forging an appointment letter to falsely present himself as its Director-General.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, petitioned the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force in October 2025 following complaints about the council.

According to the Presidency, Adeyemi was subsequently arrested by the police, who reportedly recovered forged documents, uncovered 34 bank accounts linked to him, and filed an eight-count charge against him and two other suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Atiku Raises Questions Over Budget Allocation

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the Presidency’s explanation had raised more questions than answers.

He said while the government insists the PFIPC never existed, public records allegedly show that about N1.3 billion was appropriated for the council in the 2026 budget alongside the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

According to him, if the agency was truly fictitious, the government must explain how it found its way into the national budget.

Atiku questioned which ministry prepared the budget proposal, who defended it before the National Assembly, which lawmakers approved it, who inserted the allocation into the Appropriation Bill, and who eventually signed the budget into law.

Calls for Independent Investigation

The former vice-president also faulted the National Assembly over what he described as a failure of legislative oversight, saying lawmakers should have detected and queried the alleged allocation.

He further urged the Central Bank of Nigeria and relevant anti-corruption agencies to clarify their roles in the matter.

Atiku described the controversy as a reflection of deeper governance challenges, arguing that a government unable to safeguard the integrity of its own budget cannot credibly claim to uphold transparency and accountability.

He called for an independent investigation into the matter, insisting that all those involved should be held accountable, regardless of their status.