EFCC Re-arraigns Bauchi Accountant-General For Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, re-arraigned Bauchi State Accountant General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja and an unlicensed Bureau de Change operator, Aliyu Abubakar of Jasfad Resources Enterprises, before Justice O. A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

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The duo were re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge, bordering on conversion of public funds belonging to Bauchi State Government, and money laundering to the tune of ₦1, 635, 270, 350.9k (One billion, Six Hundred and Thirty-five million, Two hundred and seventy thousand, Three hundred and fifty Naira, Nine kobo).

They were earlier arraigned on April 7, 2025, with Jaja as the first defendant, while Abubakar was the second. However, in the amended charge, marked FHC/ABJCR/101/2025, dated January 5, 2026, and filed on the same date, Abubakar, trading under the name of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, became the first defendant and Jaja, the second.

Early in the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed (SAN), informed the court that the prosecution has filed a second amended charge and prayed the court for the defendants to take their plea.

Count two of the charge reads, “That you Aliyu Abubakar (trading under the name and style of “Jasfad Resources Enterprises” a purported Bureau de Change operator), Sirajo Muhammad Jaja (Accountant General of Bauchi State), Abubakar Muhammad Hafiz (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, Two Hundred and Ninety Million, One hundred and Fifty four thousand, Three hundred and Thirty seven Naira, Two kobo (N1, 290,154,337.2) 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.”

Count three reads; “That you Aliyu Abubakar (trading under the name and style of of “Jasfad Resources Enterprises” a purported Bureau de Change operator), Sirajo Muhammad Jaja (Accountant General of Bauchi State), Abubakar Muhammad Hafiz (at large), Ari Manga (at large), and Muhammad Aminu Bose (at large), between 3rd January, 2025 and 14th March 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: money laundering by converting the sum of Four hundred and twenty-six million, One hundred and sixteen Thousand, Thirteen Naira, Seven kobo (N426, 116,013.7) of the public funds, belonging to Bauchi State Government which you transferred from the Bauchi state Sub-Treasury Account, domiciled in the United Bank for Africa with account number 1018819396 into bank account of Jasfad 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.”

According to a statement made available to Naija News by the EFCC on the ongoing case, they pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, following which the counsel to the first and second defendants, Gordy Uche (SAN) and Chris Uche (SAN), respectively, applied for the defendants to continue to enjoy the bail granted them by the court, which was not objected to by the prosecution counsel.