EFCC re-arraigns Bauchi Accountant-General, alleges N1.63bn money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, Accountant-General of Bauchi State, alongside Aliyu Abubakar, an alleged unlicensed Bureau de Change operator, over an alleged N1.63 billion money laundering scheme.

The defendants were re-arraigned on Tuesday before O. A. Egwuatu, Justice
of the Federal High Court in Abuja on an amended five-count charge bordering on conversion of public funds and money laundering.

In the fresh charge, Abubakar, who operates under the name Jasfad Resources Enterprise, was listed as the first defendant, while Jaja became the second defendant.

The duo had earlier been arraigned on April 7, 2025, with Jaja initially named as the first defendant.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly diverted funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government through a series of transfers from the state’s sub-treasury account domiciled in United Bank for Africa (UBA).

One of the counts alleges that between October 29 and December 31, 2024, the defendants conspired with others still at large to convert over N1.29 billion of public funds by transferring the money into the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise.

Another count states that between January 3 and March 14, 2025, the defendants allegedly moved an additional N426.1 million from the same account into the firm’s account, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Spokesman, they pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Gordy Uche, defence counsel and Chris Uche urged the court to allow the defendants to continue on the bail earlier granted them, an application the prosecution did not oppose.

However, counsel to the first defendant filed a motion challenging the validity of the amended charges, arguing that several counts were duplicative and could expose the defendants to double jeopardy.

The defence urged the court to strike out four of the five counts.

The prosecution opposed the application, but Justice Egwuatu deferred ruling on the objection until the conclusion of the trial, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The prosecution opened its case with the testimony of its first witness, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer with UBA, who told the court that the bank received a request from the EFCC in February 2025 for account statements and related documents.

She said the bank complied by providing certified statements for the Bauchi State sub-treasury account and the Jasfad Resources Enterprise account.

Williams detailed multiple transactions allegedly linking the two accounts, including transfers of N13.1 million and N7.1 million on October 29, 2024, as well as two separate transfers of N50 million and N7.32 million on October 30, 2024.

She further revealed that at least 18 additional transfers were made on different dates within the period under review.

The documents were admitted in evidence by the court, although defence counsel indicated they would challenge their admissibility in their final written addresses.

Following the conclusion of the witness’s testimony, Egwuatu adjourned the matter until May 12, 2026, for continuation of trial.