EFCC Exposes Deep Rot: Bauchi State’s Accountant-General In Dock Over ₦1.4 Billion Theft

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 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, on charges related to money laundering and the criminal diversion of ₦1.4 billion in public funds.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The re-arraignment took place on Tuesday before Justice O.A. Egwuatu, where both defendants faced five amended counts involving allegations of theft, unlawful conversion, and money laundering of funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government.

Abubakar is being tried under his business name, Jasfad Resources Enterprise, which reportedly operates as a bureau de change.

Also listed as co-defendants—but currently at large—are Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose.

According to the EFCC, the accused, along with their accomplices still on the run, allegedly committed the offences in Abuja between October 29 and December 31, 2024.

The prosecution stated that ₦1,192,234,627 was illicitly moved from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account (UBA Account No. 1018819396) and transferred into Jasfad Resources Enterprise’s UBA account (No. 1023444660).

An additional ₦296,191,000 was allegedly laundered between January 3 and March 14, 2025, through similar transactions.

The EFCC maintained that these actions are in violation of Section 18(2)(b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Despite the charges, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

Following this, the defence team—Gordy Uche (SAN) for the first defendant and Chris Uche (SAN) for the second—requested that the defendants be allowed to remain on their previously granted bail and asked for an adjournment to allow time to study the updated charges.

The prosecution, led by Abba Mohammed (SAN), raised no objection to the bail request.

Justice Egwuatu upheld the existing bail terms and adjourned the case to July 21, 2025, for the trial to proceed.