The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, and a Bureau de Change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, over an alleged ₦1.4 billion fraud.
The duo was brought before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on a five-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and criminal misappropriation of public funds.
Aliyu Abubakar, who trades under the name Jasfad Resources Enterprise, and Jaja were previously arraigned but returned to court on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, following an amended charge filed by the anti-graft agency.
Three other suspects in the case – Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose – remain at large.
According to the EFCC, between October 29 and December 31, 2024, the defendants allegedly diverted ₦1,192,234,627 from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account, domiciled at United Bank for Africa (UBA), into the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, also held at UBA.
The funds, meant for public service delivery in Bauchi State, were allegedly laundered under the guise of foreign exchange transactions.
Another count of the charge alleges that between January 3 and March 14, 2025, the accused persons laundered an additional ₦296,191,000 using the same method – transferring the money from the same sub-treasury account to the Jasfad Resources account.
The EFCC stated that the alleged offences contravene Section 18(2)(b) and are punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Both defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. Their legal representatives, Senior Advocates of Nigeria Gordy Uche (for the first defendant) and Chris Uche (for the second defendant), requested that the court allow the defendants to continue on the bail terms earlier granted.
They also sought an adjournment to enable them to review the amended charges.
EFCC’s lead prosecuting counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN, did not oppose the plea, and Justice Egwuatu granted the request, affirming that the bail conditions would remain in effect.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to July 21, 2025, for the commencement of trial.