The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday re-arraigned Bauchi State Accountant General Sirajo Muhammad Jaja and unlicensed BDC operator Aliyu Abubakar before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged N1.63 billion money laundering.
The duo appeared before Justice O. A. Egwuatu on an amended five-count charge bordering on conversion of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government. Abubakar, trading as Jasfad Resources Enterprises, is now listed as first defendant while Jaja is second defendant.
Prosecution counsel Abba Muhammed, SAN, told the court the amended charge was dated 5 January 2026. Count two alleged that between 29 October and 31 December 2024, the defendants laundered N1.29 billion by transferring it from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account in UBA to Jasfad Resources’ UBA account.
Count three alleged a further N426.1 million was moved between 3 January and 14 March 2025 in similar fashion. Both counts cite Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Gordy Uche, SAN, and Chris Uche, SAN, asked that their clients continue on earlier bail, which the prosecution did not oppose.
Gordy Uche urged the court to strike out counts two to five for alleged duplicity. Justice Egwuatu reserved ruling till the end of trial, citing Section 395 of ACJA 2015.
Prosecution Witness One, UBA compliance officer Abimbola Williams, tendered bank statements received on EFCC request in February 2025. She told the court that multiple transfers were made from Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account 1018819396 to Jasfad Resources Account 1023444660.
“On October 29, 2024, there was a debit transfer from Bauchi State Sub-treasury Account to Jasfad Resources to the tune of N13,144,500,” she said, listing further transfers of N17.19 million on the same day, and N50 million and N7.32 million on 30 October 2024.
Williams said there were 18 other transfers within the period. The documents were admitted as exhibits.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter till 12 May 2026 for continuation of trial.
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