Budget Office Says ‘Fake Agency’ Traces Back to Buhari-Era Council

The Budget Office of the Federation says the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council did not originate under the current administration, but evolved from a structure created during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

The clarification comes amid ongoing investigations into how the council, widely described as a “fake agency,” secured a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite questions over its legal status.

The controversy has led to multiple probes by law enforcement agencies and the House of Representatives.

In a statement, the Budget Office said, “PFIPC’s institutional origin was premised on the Presidential Economic Advisory Council inaugurated by President Buhari on October 9, 2019.”

It added that the body was later restructured and proposals relating to it passed through administrative processes before appearing in the budget.

The office maintained that “the Budget Office does not create ministries, departments or agencies,” explaining that it only processes submissions from relevant authorities in line with established procedures.

The explanation follows claims by Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, who has presented himself as the director-general of the council.

In a recent interview, Adeyemi said he personally lobbied Budget Office officials to include the agency in the 2026 budget after an earlier attempt to secure funding in the 2025 budget failed.

He said, “I went to that Budget Office for the 2025 budget,” adding that officials later told him the proposal “would now be for the 2026 budget.”

The Presidency has distanced itself from the council and denied allegations linking Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to its operations, who has also presented himself to relevant authorities for questioning.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the matter, while the House of Representatives is conducting a parallel inquiry into how the agency was created, funded and allocated office space within the Federal Secretariat.