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 N1.4 billion fraud.
The two men appeared before Justice O.A. Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday. They are facing five amended charges, including money laundering, stealing, and illegal conversion of Bauchi State Government funds.
The EFCC said that the crimes were committed between October 29 and December 31, 2024. The commission accused Jaja of transferring N1.19 billion from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account into the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, a bureau de change linked to Abubakar. Both accounts are held at United Bank for Africa.
The EFCC also said the suspects laundered an additional N296 million between January 3 and March 14, 2025, using similar methods.
The commission said the acts broke Nigeria’s anti-money laundering law.
“These offences are against Sections 18(2)(b) and are punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” EFCC prosecutor Abba Mohammed (SAN) told the court.
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Jaja and Abubakar both pleaded not guilty.
Their lawyers, Gordy Uche (SAN) and Chris Uche (SAN), asked the judge to let the men stay on the same bail terms the court had earlier granted. They also asked for more time to review the new charges.
Justice Egwuatu agreed to their requests. “The court will maintain the previous bail conditions and adjourn the case to July 21, 2025, for trial,” he said.
Three other people—Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose—were also named in the case but are currently on the run.