The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, alongside a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, before the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over alleged money laundering and criminal diversion of public funds of N1.4bn.
The duo, re-arraigned on Tuesday before Justice O.A. Egwuatu, are facing five counts of amended charges bordering on money laundering, stealing, and criminal conversion of funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government.
Abubakar is being prosecuted under the trading name of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, a purported bureau de change outfit.
Also listed as defendants but currently at large are Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose.
EFCC alleged that the defendants and others now at large committed the offences between October 29, 2024, and December 31, 2024, in Abuja.
The commission told the court that the defendants committed the offence of money laundering by converting the sum of N1,192,234,627 of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government.
The anti-graft agency told the court that Jaja transferred the said sum from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1018819396 into the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1023444660.
They were also alleged to have further laundered the sum of N296,191,000 between January 3 and March 14, 2025, through a similar channel.
According to the EFCC, the offences committed contravened Sections 18(2)(b) and are punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Following their plea, the defence counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN), for the first defendant and Chris Uche (SAN) for the second defendant, urged the court to allow the defendants to continue on the bail earlier granted by the court.
They also requested an adjournment to enable them to properly study the amended charge.
The prosecution, led by Abba Mohammed (SAN), did not oppose the bail application.
Consequently, Justice Egwuatu granted the request, affirming that the earlier bail terms would remain in place and adjourned the matter to July 21, 2025, for commencement of trial.
