The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated fresh legal proceedings against three senior directors of the National Assembly, accusing them of involvement in a fraud scheme worth N337.06 million. However, the re-arraignment, scheduled for Monday at a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jikwoyi, Abuja, was delayed due to preliminary objections raised by the defense.
The accused individuals are Aishatu Bappa El-Nafaty, Director of Public Affairs; Mamud Alhaji Abubakar, former Permanent Secretary; and Igba Ityoakura Joseph, Deputy Director of Procurement. The EFCC alleges they conspired between 2017 and 2019 to commit criminal breach of trust, forgery, official corruption, and diversion of funds.
During the court session, counsel for the second defendant, Muhammed Ndayako, filed a preliminary objection seeking to strike out six counts (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 18) of the amended charge. He argued that these counts are incompetent and attempt to revive charges previously quashed by the court on May 12, 2025.
In response, EFCC counsel Francis Usani stated that the prosecution received the objection only on June 5, 2026, just days before the hearing. He described the move as frivolous and aimed at obstructing the arraignment, urging the court to proceed with taking the defendants’ pleas.
The amended charge includes 23 counts, with one accusing El-Nafaty of dishonestly converting N89.87 million from National Assembly accounts into her personal account. Another count alleges she forged receipts from Fazah Integrated Services Limited between 2017 and 2018.
The first defendant also indicated plans to file a similar objection. Justice Muhammed Zubairu granted her 48 hours to do so and allowed the prosecution time to respond. The case was adjourned to September 23, 2026, for hearing on the preliminary objections.