EFCC re-arraigns Bauchi State’s Accountant General and a BDC operator over N1.4bn fraud involving laundering, theft, and conversion of public funds
Bauchi Accountant General fraud case has been reopened as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday re-arraigned Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, the state’s top financial officer, over an alleged N1.4 billion scam.
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He appeared before Justice O.A. Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, alongside bureau de change operator Aliyu Abubakar.
Abubakar, who operates under Jasfad Resources Enterprise, faces a five-count amended charge with Jaja. The case involves serious allegations of money laundering, theft and unlawful conversion of public funds.
According to the EFCC, the total sum diverted from Bauchi State accounts between October 2024 and March 2025 amounts to N1,488,425,629.00.
Three other individuals—Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose—have also been named in the charge sheet but are currently at large.
The EFCC stated that the funds in question were transferred from the state’s Sub-Treasury account to Jasfad Resources’ UBA account, in two separate tranches.
One charge reads that the defendants converted over N1.19 billion between October and December 2024.
Another alleges the laundering of an additional N296 million between January and March 2025 using similar means. All defendants present in court pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
Defence counsels Gordy Uche and Chris Uche requested that the court uphold the current bail terms and allow time to examine the revised charge documents. The prosecution, led by Abba Muhammed, did not object to the plea for bail retention.
Justice Egwuatu approved the motion and ruled that the defendants’ existing bail conditions remain valid. He then adjourned the case to 21 July 2025, when the trial is set to commence.
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The court proceedings mark a critical development in what may become one of Bauchi’s most significant public finance corruption trials.
