Force CID probes national assembly staff leaders for alleged N500m fraud

Top officials of the National Assembly branch of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria were interrogated by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department on Wednesday over allegations of financial misappropriation involving about N500m.

PUNCH reports that three top officials of PASAN in the National Assembly were invited by the FCID on Wednesday and grilled for several hours.

The FCID letters of invitation to each of the officials were routed through the office of the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development of the National Assembly.

The letters were separately addressed to the Chairman PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, Sunday Sabiyi; the Financial Secretary, Stacy Nwodo and the Treasurer, Samtiya Daniel, inviting them to appear at the Police Department on Wednesday, 29th March 2023.

Their invitation was on the strength of a petition jointly written against them by nine suspended officers of PASAN, who accused the executive of financial misappropriation.

The Assistant Public Relations Officer of PASAN in the National Assembly, Mr. Amos, Enobong, confirmed the development in a message titled, “Police Invitation To PASAN Executive, National Assembly Chapter,” and sent to PASAN members on Thursday.

The message read, “Respected members, fraternity greetings from the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria.

“The Union wishes to bring to your notice that it is in receipt of letters from the FCID, Abuja via the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development, National Assembly and separately addressed to the Chairman PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, Comrade Sunday Sabiyi.”

It added, “Others are, the Financial Secretary PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, Comrade Stacy Nwodo, and, the Treasurer, PASAN National Assembly Chapter, Comrade Samtiya Daniel, inviting them to appear at the Police Department on Wednesday, 29th March 2023.

“This is a result of a petition filed by a group of nine suspended PASAN former EXCO (G9) members over what they termed, ‘Financial Misappropriation’ by Current EXCO of PASAN, to the Force CID, Abuja.

“Consequently and promptly, on Wednesday, 29th March 2023 in the morning, the above-named comrades appeared at the police station, Area 10, Abuja.”

The notice added that after interrogations and other processes were carried out, the union executives were granted administrative bail, on self-recognition, and to report back on Tuesday, 4th April 2023, for further questioning.