EFCC Seeks Fresh Trial for National Assembly Directors Over ₦337m Fraud

Efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to re-arraign three senior officials of the National Assembly over an alleged ₦337 million fraud were stalled on Monday following preliminary objections raised by the defence.

The defendants are Aishatu Bappa El-Nafaty, Director of Public Affairs in the Directorate of Special Duties and Parliamentary Security, Mamud Alhaji Abubakar, a former Permanent Secretary in the National Assembly Service and Igba Ityoakura Joseph, a Deputy Director of Procurement.

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

However, the planned re-arraignment before Justice Muhammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, Jikwoyi, could not proceed after counsel to the second defendant challenged portions of the amended charge.

The defence argued that several counts had previously been quashed by the court and should not be revived through the amended charge.

Responding, EFCC counsel Francis Usani urged the court to dismiss the objection, describing it as an attempt to frustrate the proceedings.

The charges allege that the defendants conspired to unlawfully divert public funds and falsify documents in relation to financial transactions carried out between 2017 and 2019.

Justice Zubairu subsequently directed the first defendant to file any similar objections within 48 hours and adjourned the matter until September 23, 2026, for hearing of the preliminary objections.

The ruling means the defendants will not take their pleas on the amended charges until the legal issues are resolved.