The trial of Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, continued on Monday, September 21, 2026, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with a prosecution witness detailing how state funds were allegedly diverted to a private company.
Jaja is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose on an amended five-count charge of money laundering, diversion of public funds, and criminal misappropriation totalling N1,635,270,350.90.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, called the first witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa. Abimbola told the court that her duties include responding to enquiries from law enforcement agencies. The EFCC tendered the state account statement and the bank’s written statement in support of its case.
The witness alleged that the defendants, as signatories to Bauchi State sub-treasury accounts, transferred funds from the accounts to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a company managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar. Giving a breakdown, she listed multiple transfers, including N13,144,500, N17,169,300 and N46,030,500 on October 29, 2024; N140,087,500 on November 22, 2024; and N335,040,000 and N300,000,000 on December 27, 2024, among several others stretching into March 2025.
Counsels to the defendants requested another date to cross-examine the witness. Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter to October 22, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination and trial.
