The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, re-arraigned Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, the Accountant General of Bauchi State, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
Jaja was re-arraigned alongside a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, who trades under the name Jasfad Resources Enterprise.
Also mentioned as co-defendants currently at large are Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose.
They are being prosecuted on a five-count amended charge involving allegations of money laundering, theft, and conversion of public funds amounting to ₦1,488,425,629.00 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Eighty-Eight Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Nine Naira only).
Count Two of the charge reads: “That you Aliyu Abubakar (trading under the name and style of ‘Jasfad Resources Enterprise,’ a purported Bureau de Change operator), Sirajo Muhammad Jaja (Accountant General of Bauchi State), Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz (at large), Ari Manga (at large) and Muhammed Aminu Bose (at large), between 29 October, 2024 and 31st December, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: money laundering by converting the sum of One Billion, One Hundred and Ninety-Two Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Seven Naira (₦1,192,234,627.00) of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government, which you transferred from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1018819396 into the bank account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise 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.”
Count Three states: “That you Aliyu Abubakar (trading under the name and style of ‘Jasfad Resources Enterprise,’ a purported Bureau de Change operator), Sirajo Muhammad Jaja (Accountant General of Bauchi State), Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz (at large), Ari Manga (at large), and Muhammed Aminu Bose (at large), between 3rd January, 2025 and 14 March, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: money laundering by converting the sum of Two Hundred and Ninety-Six Million, One Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand Naira (₦296,191,000.00) of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government, which you transferred from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1018819396 into the bank account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise 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.”
Upon hearing the charges, the defendants pleaded “not guilty.” Their respective counsel, Gordy Uche, SAN, and Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to allow the existing bail conditions to remain and requested an adjournment to enable them to review the amended charges.
Prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN, did not oppose the bail request.
Justice Egwuatu granted the request, upheld the continuation of their bail terms, and adjourned the matter until July 21, 2025, for trial to commence.