EFCC To Re-Arraign National Assembly Directors Over ₦337 Million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday sought to re-arraign three senior National Assembly officials over an alleged ₦337.06 million fraud before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jikwoyi, Abuja.

Naija News reports that the defendants are Aishatu Bappa El-Nafaty, Director of Public Affairs in the Directorate of Special Duties and Parliamentary Security; Mahmud Alhaji Abubakar, a former Permanent Secretary in the National Assembly; and Igba Ityoakura Joseph, a Deputy Director of Procurement.

The trio is facing an amended 23-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, criminal breach of trust, official corruption and alleged diversion of National Assembly funds.

The planned re-arraignment did not proceed after counsel to the second defendant, Muhammed Ndayako (SAN), filed a preliminary objection challenging portions of the amended charge.

The lawyer urged the court to strike out Counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 18, arguing that they were an attempt to revive charges previously quashed by the court in a ruling delivered on May 12, 2025.

Responding, EFCC counsel Francis Usani opposed the objection, arguing that it was filed and served at short notice.

He told the court that the defence had ample time to raise the issue but waited until shortly before the re-arraignment date.

Usani described the application as frivolous and intended to frustrate the proceedings.

He urged the court to dismiss the objection and allow the defendants to take their plea on the amended charge.

According to the amended charge, the defendants allegedly conspired between 2017 and 2019 to commit criminal breach of trust involving funds belonging to the National Assembly.

One of the charges alleged that El-Nafaty dishonestly converted ₦89.87m transferred from National Assembly accounts into her personal account.

She is also accused of allegedly forging receipts purportedly issued by a company identified as Fazah Integrated Services Limited with intent to defraud.

The first defendant indicated an intention to file a similar preliminary objection.

Justice Muhammed Zubairu directed her to do so within 48 hours and granted the prosecution time to respond.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until September 23, 2026, for hearing of the preliminary objections.