Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The trial of the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, resumed on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, with a prosecution witness revealing a detailed trail of transfers from Bauchi State sub-treasury accounts to a private company, JASFAD Resources Enterprises, over a period of several months. Jaja is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose on an amended five-count charge of money laundering, diversion of public funds, and criminal misappropriation to the tune of N1,635,270,350.9.
The prosecution counsel, Ekele E. Iheanacho, SAN, called the first prosecution witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa, whose duties include receiving requests from law enforcement agencies and responding to enquiries. The EFCC produced the state account statement and the bank's written statement to support its claim. The witness told the court that the defendants, as signatories to Bauchi State sub-treasury accounts, allegedly transferred monies from those accounts to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, which is managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.
The transfers began on October 29, 2024, when three credit transfers were made from the Sub-Treasury Bauchi Account into the JASFAD account: N13,144,500, N17,169,300, and N46,030,500. On November 7, 2024, another transfer of N17,886,250 was made, though the teller's details were not captured. On November 15, 2024, two transfers of N12,215,000 and N16,919,750 were made by order of the Sub-Treasury Bauchi Account. Four days later, on November 19, a transfer of N90,373,550 followed. On November 22, N140,087,500 was transferred.
The transfers continued into December. On December 24, 2024, two transfers of N24,192,000 and N48,892,500 were made. On December 27, two more transfers followed: N335,040,000 and N300,000,000. On December 31, two additional transfers of N14,285,527.20 and N26,975,000 were recorded.
The pattern extended into 2025. On February 25, 2025, two credit transfers of N19,840,000 and N13,020,000 were made by order of the Sub-Treasury Bauchi Account. On March 3, a transfer of N16,105,223.70 followed. Two days later, on March 5, N56,642,500 was transferred. On March 7, N45,923,790 was transferred. On March 10, N11,253,500 followed. On March 12, two transfers of N49,280,000 and N30,720,000 were made. On March 14, a final transfer of N28,262,500 was recorded.
The witness's testimony painted a picture of a systematic and sustained flow of public funds from the state's sub-treasury accounts into a private company over a period of nearly five months. The transfers were not random or isolated. They were regular, substantial, and executed by order of the Sub-Treasury Bauchi Account, suggesting a level of coordination and intent that goes beyond mere administrative error. The cumulative amount of the transfers, based on the witness's testimony, exceeds N1.6 billion, aligning with the sum the EFCC has alleged in its charges.
Counsel to the defendants informed the court that they would take another date to cross-examine the witness. Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter to October 22, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination and trial.
The case raises troubling questions about the management of public finances in Bauchi State. The Accountant-General is the chief accounting officer of the state, entrusted with the responsibility of managing and safeguarding public funds. The allegation that he and his co-defendants diverted over N1.6 billion into a private company represents a profound breach of that trust. The transfers occurred over a period of months, from October 2024 to March 2025, suggesting that the alleged scheme was not a one-time lapse but a sustained operation. The fact that the transfers were made by order of the Sub-Treasury Bauchi Account raises questions about the internal controls and oversight mechanisms that should have detected and prevented such outflows.
For the people of Bauchi State, the trial is a test of the EFCC's commitment to holding public officials accountable for the management of public funds. The prosecution's case rests largely on documentary evidence, including bank statements and transfer records, which are difficult to dispute. The witness's testimony has provided a detailed and specific account of the transactions, strengthening the prosecution's position. However, the defendants have the right to cross-examine the witness and present their own evidence. The trial will continue on October 22, 2026, when the defence will have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution's claims.
The EFCC has consistently maintained that the fight against corruption requires holding both high-profile and low-profile offenders accountable. The prosecution of a serving Accountant-General is a significant statement of intent. It sends a message that no public official is above the law and that the mismanagement of public funds will be met with the full weight of the law. Whether the EFCC can secure a conviction remains to be seen, but the trial has already succeeded in bringing the alleged diversion of N1.6 billion into public view. For the people of Bauchi State, who continue to grapple with the consequences of poor governance and inadequate public services, the case is a reminder that the fight against corruption is far from over. The coming months will determine whether justice is served and whether the funds allegedly diverted can be recovered. Until then, the trial continues, and the people of Bauchi State wait for the outcome.
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