The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday brought back before the Federal High Court in Abuja the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, alongside an alleged unlicensed Bureau de Change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, over allegations bordering on a N1.63 billion money laundering scheme
They were re-arraigned before Justice O. A. Egwuatu on an amended five-count charge accusing them of allegedly diverting and converting public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government.
The EFCC alleged that the case involves financial transactions amounting to N1,635,270,350.9, said to have been routed through accounts linked to Jasfad Resources Enterprises, which was described as an unregistered Bureau de Change operator.
Both defendants, who had earlier been arraigned in April 2025, pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.
At the resumed sitting, prosecution counsel Abba Muhammed, SAN, informed the court of the amended charge and asked that the defendants take their pleas, which they did.
Defence lawyers Gordy Uche, SAN, representing the first defendant, and Chris Uche, SAN, for the second defendant, applied for the continuation of the bail previously granted to their clients. The prosecution did not object to the request.
The trial then progressed as the EFCC opened its case and called its first witness, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), who testified on the movement of funds connected to the matter.
Williams told the court that the bank had received a directive from the EFCC in February 2025 requesting account statements and supporting documents related to Jasfad Resources and the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account.
“The request asked for the bank statements of Jaspa Resources account, Bauchi State Sub-treasury account and the documents were printed and copies given to EFCC,” she said.
She added that the requested documents were certified and presented in court as exhibits, although defence counsel objected to their admissibility, stating that their arguments would be reserved for final written addresses.
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