The Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN) has called for the establishment of an independent judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the alleged ₦1.3 billion budgetary allocation to the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Executive Director, Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, Esq., the group said the ongoing prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew over the alleged operation of a fictitious government agency was insufficient to address the wider issues raised by the controversy.
CEFSAN said while Matthew was facing charges including forgery, impersonation, conspiracy and operating a fictitious government agency, the case had failed to answer critical questions surrounding the alleged council’s creation, funding and operations.
“The issue before Nigerians goes beyond one individual. It is about the credibility of government institutions, the integrity of the national budget, and whether public accountability applies equally to every citizen, regardless of status or office,” the statement said.
The rights group questioned how the alleged fictitious agency reportedly secured about ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, operated from the Federal Secretariat, and allegedly processed recruitment for hundreds of staff.
It also noted that Matthew had reportedly linked the establishment of the council to the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, while the Presidency had denied the allegation, insisting he acted through forgery and deception.
“These conflicting accounts cannot be resolved through press statements, media narratives, or political exchanges. They require an independent, transparent, and evidence-based investigation capable of establishing the truth and restoring public confidence,” CEFSAN stated.
The organisation further demanded a forensic investigation into the alleged council’s inclusion in the 2026 budget, publication of all official records relating to its activities, and prosecution of anyone found culpable.
It maintained that “Nigeria’s democracy cannot be sustained on secrecy, selective accountability, or unanswered questions,” insisting that no individual or public office should be above investigation.
