EFCC Trial: Witness Reveals Alleged N1.6bn Transfers from Bauchi Treasury Account to Private Firm

Bauchi Accountant-General’s Trial: Witness Details Transfers of State Funds to Private Company

The trial of the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, continued on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where a prosecution witness gave evidence on alleged transfers of funds from Bauchi State government accounts 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 alleged funds totalling N1,635,270,350.90.

The case is being heard before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

During Monday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel, Ekele E. Iheanacho, SAN, called the first prosecution witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA).

Abimbola told the court that her responsibilities include responding to requests from law enforcement agencies, handling enquiries and performing other duties assigned by the bank’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The prosecution tendered the relevant Bauchi State account statements and a written statement from the bank as part of its evidence.

According to the EFCC, the defendants were signatories to Bauchi State Sub-Treasury accounts from which funds were allegedly transferred to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a company said to be managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.

While explaining transactions involving the accounts, the witness told the court that on October 29, 2024, three transfers were made from a Bauchi State Sub-Treasury account into the JASFAD Resources account.

She identified the transfers as N13,144,500, N17,169,300 and N46,030,500.

The witness further listed several other transactions allegedly made from the state account to JASFAD Resources Enterprises.

Among them, she told the court, were transfers of N17,886,250 on November 7, 2024; N12,215,000 and N16,919,750 on November 15; N90,373,550 on November 19; and N140,087,500 on November 22, 2024.

She also testified that two transfers of N24,192,000 and N48,892,500 were made on December 24, 2024.

According to her testimony, December 27, 2024, recorded significant transactions, including transfers of N335,040,000 and N300,000,000 to the JASFAD account.

The witness also mentioned further transactions on December 31, 2024, February and March 2025.

For February 25, 2025, she identified two transfers of N19,840,000 and N13,020,000.

She further told the court that transactions continued in March 2025, including transfers of 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.

On March 12, 2025, two additional transfers of N49,280,000 and N30,720,000 were allegedly made, while another transfer of N28,262,500 was recorded on March 14, 2025.

The defence counsel informed the court that they would require another date to cross-examine the prosecution witness.

Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter until October 22, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination and further trial.

The allegations against the defendants have not been proven in court, and the defendants remain entitled to the presumption of innocence until determined otherwise by the court.