EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General, Others Over Alleged N8.3bn Fraud

EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General, Others Over Alleged N8.3bn Fraud

By Hussaini Ibrahim Kafi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged N8.3 billion fraud involving public funds.

Jaja was docked alongside a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, and his company, Jasfad Resources Enterprise. Also linked to the case, but currently at large, are a 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 EFCC slammed the defendants with a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion, and criminal misappropriation of public funds totaling N8,380,626,430.95.

One of the charges stated that Abubakar, in conspiracy with the former SSG, Kashim, laundered and transferred over N2.8 billion from the Bauchi State Expenditure Account at United Bank for Africa to the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise within the 2024 fiscal year. The offence, the EFCC said, contravenes the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Following their plea, prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, urged the court to set a date for trial and remand the defendants in a correctional facility. However, defence counsel Mohammed Ndayako, SAN, and Chris Uche, SAN, prayed the court to grant their clients bail.

Uche, representing Jaja, informed the court that the Accountant General was already on administrative bail and played a crucial role in managing Bauchi State’s finances. He appealed for bail on self-recognition or for him to be released to the Attorney General of the state, who would ensure his appearance in court.

The prosecution opposed the bail application, highlighting that the first defendant had previously jumped administrative bail and that Jaja was a flight risk due to his non-residency in Abuja.

“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,” Mohammed said.

After hearing both sides, Justice Egwuatu granted each defendant bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must reside in Abuja, with one being a federal government employee not below Grade Level 17 and presenting proof of tax payment for the past three years. The defendants were also ordered to deposit their international passports with the court registrar.

Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the court released Jaja to the Bauchi State Attorney General, Hassan L. Yakubu, SAN, while Abubakar was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.

The trial was adjourned till June 17, 2025.