The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a fresh legal move to re-arraign three senior National Assembly officials over an alleged N337 million fraud.
The case was brought before Justice Muhammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court in Jikwoyi, Abuja.
The defendants are Aishatu El-Nafaty, Director of Public Affairs in the Directorate of Special Duties and Parliamentary Security; Mamud Alhaji Abubakar, a former Permanent Secretary; and Igba Joseph, Deputy Director of Procurement.
The EFCC wants them re-arraigned on an amended 23-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, criminal breach of trust, official corruption, and illegal conversion of public funds.
But the re-arraignment did not hold on Tuesday as the Counsel for the second defendant, Muhammed Ndayako, filed a preliminary objection asking the Court to strike out 6 of the amended 23-count charge. He argues that the counts are incompetent and an attempt to revive charges already quashed by the same court in May 2025.
Prosecution counsel, Francis Usani told the Court that the objection came late, having been served only on June 5th. He said the defense had over a month to file it and accused them of trying to frustrate the process.
The judge directed the first defendant to file any similar objection within 48 hours and gave the prosecution time to respond.
The case was adjourned to September 23rd, 2026, for hearing on the preliminary objection.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
