EFCC’s bid to re-arraign three National Assembly officials over N337m fraud stalled

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, failed to proceed with the re-arraignment of 3 officials linked to the National Assembly implicit an alleged N337 cardinal fraud lawsuit aft 1 of the defendants challenged parts of the amended charges earlier the court.

The defendants, Aishatu Bappa El-Nafaty, Director of Public Affairs successful the Directorate of Special Duties and Parliamentary Security astatine the National Assembly; Mamud Alhaji Abubakar, a erstwhile Permanent Secretary successful the National Assembly Service; and Igba Ityoakura Joseph, a Deputy Director of Procurement, were scheduled to beryllium re-arraigned earlier Justice Muhammed Zubairu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jikwoyi, Abuja.

The trio is facing an amended 23-count complaint bordering connected alleged conspiracy, forgery, transgression breach of trust, authoritative corruption and the unlawful conversion of National Assembly funds amounting to N337,062,350.

Proceedings, however, could not proceed aft counsel to the 2nd defendant, Muhammed Ndayako (SAN), raised a preliminary objection seeking the dismissal of counts three, four, five, six, 7 and 18 of the amended charge.

Ndayako argued that ...