The planned re-arraignment of three officials linked to an alleged N337 million fraud involving the National Assembly was on Monday delayed after defence lawyers raised fresh legal objections before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had sought to re-arraign Aishatu Bappa El-Nafaty, Mahmud Alhaji Abubakar and Igba Ityoakura Joseph before Justice Muhammed Zubairu on an amended 23-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, criminal breach of trust, official corruption and alleged diversion of public funds.
El-Nafaty is a Director in the Public Affairs Department of the Directorate of Special Duties and Parliamentary Security at the National Assembly. Abubakar is a former Permanent Secretary in the National Assembly Service, while Joseph serves as a Deputy Director of Procurement.
The anti-graft agency alleges that the defendants were involved in the unlawful conversion of National Assembly funds amounting to N337.06 million.
However, proceedings were halted after counsel to the second defendant, Muhammed Ndayako (SAN), filed a preliminary objection challenging portions of the amended charge.
The defence lawyer urged the court to strike out several counts in the charge, arguing that they sought to revive allegations that had already been quashed by the court in an earlier ruling delivered on May 12, 2025.
Responding, EFCC prosecutor Francis Usani criticised the timing of the application, noting that the prosecution was only served with the objection shortly before the scheduled re-arraignment.
Usani argued that the application was frivolous and intended to delay proceedings, urging the court to dismiss it and allow the defendants to take their pleas on the amended charges.
According to the amended charge, the defendants allegedly conspired between 2017 and 2019 to commit acts amounting to criminal breach of trust while serving in various capacities within the National Assembly.
One of the allegations against El-Nafaty claims she unlawfully converted N89.87 million that was allegedly transferred from National Assembly accounts into a personal account and subsequently misappropriated the funds.
The EFCC also accused her of allegedly producing and using false payment receipts purportedly issued by a company identified as Fazah Integrated Services Limited between 2017 and 2018.
During proceedings, counsel for the first defendant indicated plans to file a similar preliminary objection challenging aspects of the amended charge.
Justice Zubairu subsequently directed that the application be filed within 48 hours and granted the prosecution time to respond to all objections raised by the defence.
The judge adjourned the matter until September 23, 2026, for hearing on the preliminary objections.
The outcome of the objections is expected to determine whether the defendants will eventually be re-arraigned on the amended charges.
