The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, re-arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
Jaja was arraigned alongside Aliyu Abubakar, a bureau de change operator trading under the name Jasfad Resources Enterprise. Three other defendantsAbubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Boseremain at large.
The defendants are facing a five-count amended charge bordering on money laundering, stealing, and conversion of public funds amounting to N1,488,425,629.00 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Eighty-Eight Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Nine Naira).
According to count two of the charge, between October 29 and December 31, 2024, the defendants allegedly laundered N1,192,234,627.00 of Bauchi State funds by transferring it from the states sub-treasury account (UBA account no. 1018819396) into the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise (UBA account no. 1023444660). The offence is said to violate Section 18(2)(b) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count three alleges that between January 3 and March 14, 2025, the defendants similarly laundered N296,191,000.00 of public funds through the same bank accounts.
All present defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, defence counsel Gordy Uche, SAN (for Jaja), and Chris Uche, SAN (for Abubakar), requested the court to allow the defendants to continue on existing bail conditions. They also sought an adjournment to study the amended charge.
The prosecution, led by Abba Muhammed, SAN, did not oppose the bail request.
Justice Egwuatu granted the application, ordering that the existing bail should remain in force, and adjourned the case to July 21, 2025, for trial.
