EFCC Moves to Re-Arraign Senior National Assembly Officials on Amended Fraud Charges
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated fresh legal proceedings against three senior officials of the National Assembly over an alleged fraud involving N337.06 million.
The anti-graft agency on Monday sought to re-arraign Aishatu Bappa El-Nafaty, Mamud Alhaji Abubakar, and Igba Ityoakura Joseph before Justice Muhammed Zubairu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jikwoyi, Abuja.
The defendants are facing an amended 23-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, official corruption, and the alleged unlawful conversion of public funds belonging to the National Assembly.
Who Are the Defendants?
According to court documents, Aishatu Bappa El-Nafaty currently serves as Director of the Public Affairs Department in the Directorate of Special Duties and Parliamentary Security of the National Assembly.
The second defendant, Mamud Alhaji Abubakar, is a former Permanent Secretary in the services of the National Assembly, while the third defendant, Igba Ityoakura Joseph, is a Deputy Director of Procurement.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants were involved in financial misconduct between 2017 and 2019, leading to the alleged diversion of public funds amounting to N337,062,350.
Re-Arraignment Delayed by Preliminary Objection
The planned re-arraignment did not proceed after counsel to the second defendant, Muhammed Ndayako (SAN), filed a preliminary objection challenging several counts in the amended charge.
The defence requested the court to strike out counts three, four, five, six, seven, and eighteen, arguing that the charges were incompetent and represented an attempt to revive counts that had already been quashed by the court in a ruling delivered on May 12, 2025.
In response, EFCC prosecuting counsel Francis Usani expressed dissatisfaction with the timing of the objection. He informed the court that the prosecution was served with the application only days before the scheduled re-arraignment despite having ample time to receive it earlier.
Usani urged the court to dismiss the objection, describing it as frivolous and a deliberate attempt to delay proceedings. He maintained that the defendants should proceed to take their plea on the amended charges.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
One of the charges alleges that the defendants conspired to commit criminal breach of trust while serving in various official capacities within the National Assembly.
The EFCC further accused El-Nafaty of allegedly misappropriating N89.87 million that was reportedly transferred from National Assembly accounts into a personal account domiciled with SunTrust Bank Plc.
According to the prosecution, the funds were allegedly diverted and converted for personal use, an act said to be contrary to provisions of the Penal Code.
Another count alleges that El-Nafaty, between 2017 and 2018, fraudulently produced false receipts purportedly issued by Fazah Integrated Services Limited. The EFCC claims the documents contained varying dates and amounts and were allegedly created with the intention of deceiving authorities and presenting them as genuine records.
Court Adjourns Case Until September
During proceedings, the first defendant indicated plans to file a similar preliminary objection.
Justice Muhammed Zubairu subsequently directed that the application be filed within 48 hours and granted the prosecution time to respond appropriately.
In the interest of justice, the court adjourned the matter until September 23, 2026, for hearing of the preliminary objections before further action can be taken on the amended charges.
Implications of the Case
The case is one of several high-profile corruption matters being pursued by the EFCC as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public sector.
Legal observers note that the outcome of the preliminary objections could significantly influence the direction of the trial and determine whether the amended charges proceed as filed.