The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, re-arraigned the Bauchi State’s Accountant General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja. This is contained in a statement statement signed by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity Dele Oyewole.
According to the statement, Jaja was arraigned alongside a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar whose trading name is Jasfad Resources Enterprise. Other defendants at large are:
Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose.
They are facing prosecution on a five-count amended charge bordering on money laundering, stealing and conversion of public funds to the tune of N1,488,425,629.000 (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 ( N1,192,234,627.00) of public funds, belonging to Bauchi State government which you transferred from the Bauchi State Sub-treasury Account domiciled in United Bank for Africa with the account number 1018819396 into the bank account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, domiciled in United Bank for Africa with the 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 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 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 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.”
They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting counsel to first and second defendant, Gordy Uche, SAN and Chris Uche, SAN, respectively to pray the court to allow the subsisting bail of the defendants to continue to prevail and further asked the court for adjournment to allow them study the amended charge. Their plea on the bail was not objected to by the prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN.
Justice Egwuatu upheld that the subsisting bail of the defendants should continue and adjourned the matter till July 21, 2025 for commencement of trial.
