The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned Bauchi State Accountant General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged N8.3 billion fraud.
Jaja was charged alongside a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, and his company, Jasfad Resources Enterprise. Other suspects, including a former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, and the incumbent Secretary, Aminu Hammayo, were also implicated but remain at large.
The defendants face a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds, and criminal misappropriation amounting to N8,380,626,430.95. One of the charges alleges that between January 2024 and December 2024, Abubakar, Kashim, and Jasfad Resources Enterprise transferred N2.8 billion from the Bauchi State Expenditure Account into Jasfad’s corporate account, violating the Money Laundering Act.
All defendants pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Abba Mohammed, SAN, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand them in custody.
However, defence lawyers Mohammed Ndayako, SAN, and Chris Uche, SAN, applied for bail, with Uche arguing that Jaja, being a key official in Bauchi’s financial administration, should be released on self-recognition or to the state’s Attorney General.
The prosecution opposed bail, citing that Abubakar had previously jumped administrative bail and that Jaja, residing outside Abuja, posed a flight risk. “We filed a counter-affidavit urging the court to refuse the third defendant’s bail application,” the EFCC’s counsel stated.
Justice Egwuatu granted each defendant bail at N200 million, requiring two sureties—one a federal employee not below Grade Level 17—who must provide proof of tax compliance. The defendants must also surrender their passports. While Jaja was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending bail perfection, the Accountant General was released to Bauchi’s Attorney General.
The case was adjourned to 17 June 2025 for trial.
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