The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday re-arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, and a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, over alleged N1.4 billion fraud.
Jaja and Abubakar, who trades under the name Jasfad Resources Enterprise, were brought before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on a five-count amended charge bordering on money laundering, theft, and conversion of public funds.
Three other defendants, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose, are currently at large.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly diverted a total of N1,488,425,629.00 belonging to the Bauchi State Government between October 2024 and March 2025.
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Aliyu Abubakar (trading as Jasfad Resources Enterprise), Sirajo Muhammad Jaja (Accountant General of Bauchi State), Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz (at large), Ari Manga (at large), and Muhammed Aminu Bose (at large), between October 29 and December 31, 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed money laundering by converting the sum of N1,192,234,627.00, public funds belonging to Bauchi State, which was transferred from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury account to the Jasfad Resources Enterprise account, both domiciled in UBA.”
Another count accused the defendants of laundering an additional N296,191,000.00 between January and March 2025 using the same method.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, defence counsel, Gordy Uche, and Chris Uche, requested that the court allow the existing bail conditions to continue and asked for an adjournment to study the amended charges.
Prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, did not oppose the bail request.
Justice Egwuatu granted the plea and ruled that the defendants’ earlier bail conditions should remain in effect. The case was adjourned to July 21, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
