Alleged N1.6bn money laundering: Court rejects Bauchi AGF application to travel for Hajj

Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, rejected an application filed by the Bauchi State Accountant General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, for permission to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Muslim pilgrimage, Hajj, and a medical check-up.

Jaja is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar, an unlicensed bureau de change operator, on an amended five-count charge.

The charges border on the conversion of funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government and money laundering to the tune of N1,635,270,350.09.

Following the conclusion of the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa, Jaja’s counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court of his client’s application for leave to travel.

He requested a temporary release of the defendant’s passport to enable him to travel to Saudi Arabia for two weeks.

In response, prosecution counsel Abba Muhammed, SAN, informed the court that the prosecution objected to the application.

He argued that the defendant is a flight risk, especially since other parties involved in the charge remain at large. He stated that the prosecution opposed the application with a ten-paragraph affidavit filed on March 13, 2026, providing cogent reasons for the court to reject the request.

In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu struck out the application and adjourned the matter until June 30, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.