Alleged N1.6bn Fraud: EFCC Re-arraigns Bauchi Accountant-General
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Jaja, alongside an unlicensed Bureau de Change operator, Aliyu Abubakar of Jasfad Resources Enterprises, before Justice O. A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged fraud amounting to about N1.6 billion. According to a statement shared […]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Jaja, alongside an unlicensed Bureau de Change operator, Aliyu Abubakar of Jasfad Resources Enterprises, before Justice O. A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged fraud amounting to about N1.6 billion.
According to a statement shared by the anti-graft agency, “The duo were re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge, bordering on conversion of public funds belonging to Bauchi State Government, and money laundering to the tune of N1,635,270,350.9.”
The Commission explained that while the defendants were first arraigned on April 7, 2025—with Jaja listed as the first defendant and Abubakar as the second—the amended charge altered their positions.
“They were earlier arraigned on April 7, 2025, with Jaja as the first defendant, while Abubakar was the second… However, in the amended charge… Abubakar… became the first defendant and Jaja, the second,” the statement added.
At the resumed proceedings, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, informed the court that a second amended charge had been filed and urged the court to take the defendants’ plea.
One of the counts reads, “That you Aliyu Abubakar… and Sirajo Jaja… between 29 October, 2024 and 31st December, 2024… did commit an offence to wit: money laundering by converting the sum of N1,290,154,337.2… of public funds… belonging to Bauchi State Government…”
Another count states, “That you Aliyu Abubakar… and Sirajo Jaja… between 3rd January, 2025 and 14th March 2025… did commit an offence to wit: money laundering by converting the sum of N426,116,013.7… of public funds…”
Both defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges.
Following their plea, defence counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN) and Chris Uche (SAN), applied for the continuation of the bail earlier granted to the defendants. The prosecution did not oppose the application, and the court allowed the existing bail conditions to remain.
The defence team also challenged the competence of the charges, urging the court to strike out counts two to five on grounds of duplicity and possible double jeopardy. However, the court reserved its ruling on the application until the conclusion of the trial, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
In the course of proceedings, the prosecution called its first witness, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), who testified on the financial transactions linked to the case.
“She told the court that the bank received a request from the EFCC in February 2025 for details of some clients,” the statement said.
“The request asked for the bank statements of Jaspa Resources account, Bauchi State Sub-treasury account and the documents were printed and copies given to EFCC,” it added.
Williams further testified on fund movements allegedly traced during the investigation, stating, “On October 29, 2024, we have a debit transfer of N7,196,300. On October 30, 2024, there were two debit transfers… first for N50 million and the second for N7,321,000.”
She also informed the court that several other transfers were made on different dates within the period under review.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter until May 12, 2026, for continuation of the trial.