The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, April 7, 2025, arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged N8.3billion fraud.
Jaja was arraigned alongside Aliyu Abubakar, a bureau de change operator, and his company, Jasfad Resources Enterprise.
They are facing a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds, and criminal misappropriation.
The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiring with other top officials of the Bauchi State Government, some of whom are currently at large, to siphon billions from state coffers.
Those still at large include the former Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Kashim; the current SSG, Aminu Hammayo; Saleh U. Mohammed; and Balarabe Abdullahi.
One of the charges revealed that between January 5 and December 10, 2024, the sum of N2.8 billion was allegedly laundered through a United Bank for Africa account belonging to Jasfad Resources Enterprise.
The money was said to have been transferred from the Bauchi State Expenditure Account.
The EFCC said the act contravenes Section 18(2)(b) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read out in court. Following this, the prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in a Correctional Facility.
Meanwhile, defence counsel, Mohammed Ndayako, SAN, representing the first and second defendants, and Chris Uche, SAN, representing the third defendant, applied for their release on bail.
Uche informed the court that the third defendant, who serves as the Accountant General of Bauchi State, holds a critical role in managing the state’s finances and was already on administrative bail.
He urged the court to grant him bail on self-recognition or, alternatively, release him to the Attorney General of Bauchi State, who would guarantee his appearance in court.
Opposing the bail applications, the prosecution highlighted that the first defendant had previously jumped administrative bail.
They also argued that the third defendant, not residing in Abuja, posed a flight risk.
“We filed a 17-paragraph counter-affidavit on April 4, 2025, sworn to by Ogundana Peter Kolawole, along with a written address. We adopt both and respectfully ask the court to deny the third defendant’s bail application,” the prosecution stated.
After considering submissions from both sides, Justice Egwuatu granted bail to each defendant in the sum of N200million, with two sureties in the same amount.
The court stipulated that the sureties must be Abuja residents, with at least one being a federal government employee not below Grade Level 17, and must provide evidence of tax payments for the past three years.
Meanwhile, the defendants were ordered to deposit their passports with the court registrar.
Pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions, the third defendant was released to the Attorney General of Bauchi State, Hassan L. Yakubu, SAN, while the first defendant, Jaja, was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The case was adjourned to June 17, 2025, for trial to begin.
