The trial of the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, continued on Monday, September 21, 2026, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with a bank official detailing several transfers allegedly made from a Bauchi State sub-treasury account to a private company.
Jaja is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose, over alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds and criminal misappropriation.
The defendants are facing an amended five-count charge involving an alleged N1,635,270,350.90.
At Monday’s proceedings before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, EFCC counsel, Ekele E. Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the case was ready for trial before calling the prosecution’s first witness, Williams Abimbola.
Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), told the court that her responsibilities included responding to requests and enquiries from law enforcement agencies, among other duties assigned by the bank’s chief compliance officer.
The prosecution tendered the Bauchi State account statement and a written statement from the bank in support of its case.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants, who were signatories to Bauchi State sub-treasury accounts, transferred funds from the government accounts to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a company allegedly managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.
While explaining transactions involving the JASFAD account, Abimbola told the court that three transfers were made from the Bauchi State sub-treasury account on October 29, 2024.
“My Lord, on the 29 of October 2024, we have three credit transfers into the account of JASFAD from the Sub-treasury Bauchi Account. We have a transfer of N13,144,500, we also had a transfer of N17,169,300, and there is a transfer of N46,030,500,” she said.
The witness further listed a series of transactions allegedly made into the account between November 2024 and March 2025.
She told the court that N17,886,250 was transferred on November 7, 2024, while two transfers of N12,215,000 and N16,919,750 were made on November 15.
According to her testimony, another N90,373,550 was transferred on November 19, followed by N140,087,500 on November 22.
Abimbola said two further transfers of N24,192,000 and N48,892,500 were made on December 24, 2024.
She also testified that on December 27, 2024, N335,040,000 and N300 million were transferred from the sub-treasury account into JASFAD Resources Enterprises.
She added that two transfers were made on December 31, amounting to N14,285,527.20 and N26,975,000.
The witness continued by detailing transactions in 2025, including transfers of N19,840,000 and N13,020,000 on February 25; N16,105,223.70 on March 3; N56,642,500 on March 5; N45,923,790 on March 7; and N11,253,500 on March 10.
She further told the court that two transfers of N49,280,000 and N30,720,000 were made on March 12, followed by another transfer of N28,262,500 on March 14.
The witness also reiterated details of the December 27 transactions when questioned about the credits into the JASFAD account.
“On December 27, 2024, there were three transfers, the first one is N335,040,000, the second one is N300,000,000 while the third is N26,975,000,” she said.
Counsel representing the defendants indicated that they would cross-examine the witness at the next sitting.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the case until October 22, 2026, for continuation of the witness’s cross-examination and further hearing of the trial.
The defendants have not been convicted of the allegations and remain entitled to the presumption of innocence until the court determines the case.
