The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned the Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, alongside an unlicensed Bureau de Change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, over an alleged ₦1.63 billion fraud.
The defendants were brought before Justice O. A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on an amended five-count charge bordering on money laundering and diversion of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State government.
According to the amended charge, the alleged offences involve the conversion of funds totalling ₦1,635,270,350.90 through a series of transactions between October 2024 and March 2025.
Prosecutors claim the funds were transferred from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury account domiciled in United Bank for Africa into accounts linked to Jasfad Resources Enterprises.
The duo had initially been arraigned in April 2025, but the revised charge, filed in January 2026, reordered the defendants, listing Abubakar as the first defendant and Jaja as the second.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel Abba Muhammed, SAN, informed the court of a second amended charge and requested that the defendants take their plea. Both defendants pleaded not guilty.
Defence counsel, including Gordy Uche, SAN, and Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to allow their clients to continue on existing bail conditions a request that was not opposed by the prosecution and subsequently granted.
The defence also challenged the validity of parts of the charge, arguing that some counts were duplicative and could expose the defendants to double jeopardy.
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However, the court reserved ruling on the objection until the conclusion of trial, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
During the hearing, the prosecution presented its first witness, a compliance officer with UBA, who testified that the bank provided account statements and documentation to the EFCC following a request in February 2025.
The documents were admitted as evidence despite objections from the defence.
The witness further detailed multiple transactions allegedly linking the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury account to Jasfad Resources, including several transfers running into millions of naira over the period under review.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the case until May 12, 2026, for continuation of trial.
