The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, and a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, on fresh charges involving the alleged laundering and diversion of N1.4 billion in public funds.
The duo were brought before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, where they faced a five-count amended charge bordering on money laundering, theft, and criminal conversion of government funds.
According to the EFCC, the funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government were allegedly funneled through fraudulent transactions carried out between October 29 and December 31, 2024. Jaja was accused of transferring over N1.19 billion from the state’s Sub-Treasury account at United Bank for Africa (UBA) into an account operated by Jasfad Resources Enterprise, a bureau de change linked to Abubakar, also held at UBA.
Further allegations include laundering an additional N296.1 million between January 3 and March 14, 2025, via similar methods.
Others named in the charges Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose remain at large.
The EFCC stated that the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Gordy Uche (SAN) and Chris Uche (SAN) applied for the continuation of the bail earlier granted to their clients, a request that went unopposed by prosecution counsel Abba Mohammed (SAN).
Justice Egwuatu upheld the existing bail conditions and adjourned the case to July 21, 2025, for trial to commence.
