On Monday, April 7, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, the Accountant General of Bauchi State, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on charges of fraud.
Jaja was arraigned alongside Aliyu Abubakar, a bureau de change operator, and his company, Jasfad Resources Enterprise.
Others involved in the case, who remain at large, include the former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, the current Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Hammayo, Saleh U. Mohammed, and Balarabe Abdullahi.
The defendants are facing nine counts, which include charges of money laundering, diversion of public funds, and criminal misappropriation of over N8 billion. 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 defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges, prompting prosecution counsel Abba Mohammed, SAN, to request a trial date and ask the court to remand the defendants in a Correctional Facility.
Defense counsel, Mohammed Ndayako, SAN, representing the first and second defendants, and Chris Uche, SAN, representing the third defendant, filed bail applications on their behalf.
Uche informed the court that the third defendant, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, plays a key role in Bauchi State’s financial operations and was already on administrative bail.
He requested that Jaja be granted bail on self-recognition or released to the Attorney General of Bauchi State, who would ensure his appearance in court.
In opposition to the bail applications, the prosecution counsel pointed out that the first defendant had previously violated administrative bail terms and noted that Jaja, the third defendant, did not reside in Abuja, making him a flight risk.
“We filed a 17-paragraph counter-affidavit on April 4, 2025, deposed to by Ogundana Peter Kolawole, alongside a written address. We adopt both and urge the court to refuse the third defendant’s application for bail,” the prosecution counsel argued.
After considering the arguments, Justice Egwuatu granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties must be residents of Abuja, with one of them being a federal government employee not below Grade Level 17 and must provide evidence of tax payment for the past three years.
The court further ordered that the defendants deposit their passports with the court registrar.
Pending the perfection of their bail conditions, the third defendant, Sirajo Muhammad 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 case has been adjourned until June 17, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
