The Bauchi Accountant General transferred state funds to private companies, witnesses told the court

The trial of Bauchi State Accountant General, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja continued on Monday, September 21, 2026 at the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu with witnesses revealing how Jaja diverted state funds to private companies.

Jaja is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) along with Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose, for alleged corruption.

The defendants were arraigned by the EFCC on five amended charges namely money laundering, diversion of public funds and misappropriation of criminal funds amounting to N1,635,270,350.9 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty Five Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Naira, Nine Kobo).

The prosecutor, Ekele E. Iheanacho, SAN told the court that the matter would go to trial before calling the first witness, PW1 to testify in court. Prosecution witness, Williams Abimbola, compliance officer at United Bank for Africa, UBA, said that his duties included among others receiving requests from law enforcement agencies, responding to inquiries and any other duties assigned to him by the bank’s Chief compliance officer.

The EFCC produced state account statements and bank affidavits to support its claims in court.

It is alleged that the defendants, as signatories to the Bauchi State Treasury Cash Account, transferred money from the State Treasury Cash Account to the JASFAD Resources Company managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.

When the prosecutor asked the witness to explain the transactions that occurred on 29 October 2024 as well as subsequent transactions, he said, “My Lord, on 29 October 2024, we had three credit transfers to the JASFAD account from the Bauchi Sub-Treasury Account. We had a transfer of N13,144,500, we also had a transfer of N17,169,300, and there was a transfer of N46,030,500.

Providing details of the transactions in the account, the UBA staff said: “On November 7, 2024, we made a credit transfer of N17,886,250, but the details of the teller were not captured. It only shows that the transfer was made. On November 15, we had two credit transfers transferred on the orders of the Sub-Treasury, the Bauchi Account amounted to N12,215,000 and N16,919,750 respectively.

“On November 19, 2024, we made another transfer from the Bauchi sub-treasury account in the amount of N90,373,550. On November 22, 2024, we made another credit transfer from the Bauchi sub-treasury account in the amount of N140,087,500. Then on December 24, 2024, we made two credit transfers from the Bauchi sub-treasury account, the first one amounting to N24,192,000 and a second transfer amounting to N48,892,500 On December 27, 2024, we made two credit transfers at the behest of the Bauchi sub-treasury account to JASFAD, the first amounting to N335,040,000 and the second transfer amounting to N300,000,000.

“On December 31, we made two transfers on the orders of the Bauchi Sub-Treasury Account amounting to N14,285,527.20k. The second transfer amounted to N26,975,000.

“On February 25, 2025 we made a credit transfer by order of the sub-treasurer, Bauchi Account to JASFAD Resources in the amount of N19,840,000, and N13,020,000. On March 3, 2025, we made a credit transfer by order of the sub-treasurer, Bauchi account in the amount of N16,105,223.70k. On March 5, 2025, we made a credit transfer amounting to N56,642,500. On March 7, 2025, we made a credit transfer of N45,923,790, on March 10, 2025, we made a first transfer of N11,253,500, a second transfer of N30,720,000, while on March 14, 2025, we made a credit transfer on orders. sub-treasurer, Bauchi account amounted to N28,262,500.”

The witness told the court that on February 25, 2025, there were two credits from the Bauchi Treasury account to the JASFAD Resources account. According to the witness, the first transfer amounted to N19,840,000 while the second transfer amounted to N13,020,000. He said, “On December 27, 2024, there were three transfers, the first was N335,040,000, the second was N300,000,000, and the third was N26,975,000.

The defendants’ lawyers said they would take another date to cross-examine the witness.

Judge Egwuatu then adjourned the matter until 22 October 2026, to continue cross-examining witnesses and continuing the trial.