EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General for Alleged N8.3 Billion Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Jaja, before a Federal High Court in Abuja for an alleged fraud involving N8.3 billion.

Jaja was arraigned alongside a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, and his company, Jasfad Resources Enterprise, on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds, and criminal misappropriation of funds.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read to them, and the prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN), requested a trial date and urged the court to remand them in a Correctional Facility.

The defence counsel, however, moved applications for their bail, arguing that the defendants were innocent until proven guilty and should be granted bail.

According to the EFCC, the alleged fraud occurred between January 5, 2024, and December 10, 2024, and involved the conversion and transfer of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government into the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise. The commission alleged that the defendants used the funds for personal gain, thereby committing an offence contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

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 Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Eight Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, One Hundred Naira (N2,808,595,100.00) of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government from the Bauchi State Expenditure Account, domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1022197086 into the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, also domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1023444660, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

The prosecution counsel, Mohammed (SAN), opposed the bail applications, arguing that the first defendant had previously jumped administrative bail and that the third defendant, the Accountant General of Bauchi State, did not reside in Abuja, making him a flight risk. He also informed the court that the defendants had not provided sufficient evidence to guarantee their appearance in court.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, Justice O.A. Egwuatu granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N200 million each with two sureties in like sum. The sureties, the court held, must be residents of Abuja, of which one must be a federal government employee not below Grade Level 17 and must present evidence of tax payment for the past three years.

The court further held that the defendants must deposit their passports with the court registrar.

Pending the perfection of their bail conditions, the third defendant, Sirajo Jaja, was released to the Attorney General of Bauchi State, Hassan L. Yakubu, SAN, while the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar, was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

The matter was adjourned till June 17, 2025, for commencement of trial. The EFCC has vowed to ensure that justice is served in the case, and the defendants are held accountable for their alleged crimes.