Photo: Sirajo Muhammad Jaja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, April 7, 2025, arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on charges related to a massive fraud involving over N8.3 billion.
A statement by the EFCC on its official Facebook account revealed that Jaja was arraigned alongside Aliyu Abubakar, a bureau de change operator, and his firm, Jasfad Resources Enterprise. Also named in the case—but currently at large—are former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ibrahim Kashim, current SSG Aminu Hammayo, as well as Saleh U. Mohammed and Balarabe Abdullahi.
The accused are facing a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal misappropriation, and diversion of public funds amounting to ₦8,380,626,430.95.
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Aliyu Abubakar, Jasfad Resources Enterprise (a Bureau de Change operator), and Ibrahim Kashim (former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, now at large), sometime between January 5, 2024, and December 10, 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence to wit: money laundering by converting and transferring the sum of ₦2,808,595,100.00 of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government from its Expenditure Account at United Bank for Africa (UBA) into the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, also domiciled in UBA…”
All three defendants present in court pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, requested the court to set a trial date and to remand the defendants in custody. However, defence counsel Mohammed Ndayako, SAN (representing the first and second defendants), and Chris Uche, SAN (representing the third defendant, Jaja), filed bail applications.
Uche argued that Jaja, in his capacity as the Accountant General of Bauchi State, held a significant public office and was already on administrative bail. He requested bail on self-recognition or that the defendant be released to the Attorney General of Bauchi State, who would ensure his appearance in court.
Opposing the bail applications, the prosecution argued that the first defendant had previously jumped administrative bail and claimed that the third defendant’s residence outside Abuja made him a flight risk.
“We filed a 17-paragraph counter-affidavit on April 4, 2025, deposed to by Ogundana Peter Kolawole, along with a written address. We adopt both and urge the court to deny the third defendant’s bail application,” the EFCC counsel stated.
After reviewing the submissions from both sides, Justice Egwuatu granted bail to all defendants for ₦200 million each, with two sureties in like sum. The court ruled that:
- Sureties must reside in Abuja.
- One must be a federal government employee not below Grade Level 17.
- Sureties must provide evidence of three years’ tax payments.
- Defendants must deposit their international passports with the court registrar.
Pending the fulfillment of bail conditions, the court ordered that:
- The third defendant, Jaja, be released to the Attorney General of Bauchi State, Hassan L. Yakubu, SAN.
- The first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
The case has been adjourned until June 17, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.
