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 before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, featuring testimony from a key witness on how state funds were systematically diverted into private accounts.
Jaja is facing prosecution 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 encompassing money laundering, diversion of public funds, and criminal misappropriation totaling N1,635,270,350.93.
Prosecution counsel Ekele E. Iheanacho, SAN, presented Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa, as the first witness.
Abimbola testified that the defendants, serving as signatories to the Bauchi State sub-treasury accounts, transferred substantial sums directly to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a private company managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.
Detailing the chronological flow of funds, the witness revealed that multiple credit transfers moved from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account into the JASFAD account across several months. On October 29, 2024, three transfers occurred, amounting to N13,144,500, N17,169,300, and N46,030,500 respectively.
Subsequent transactions included a credit transfer of N17,886,250 on November 7, followed by transfers of N12,215,000 and N16,919,750 on November 15, as well as transfers of N90,373,550 on November 19 and N140,087,500 on November 22.
The financial trail continued through December 2024, with two transfers of N24,192,000 and N48,892,500 on December 24, followed by massive sums of N335,040,000 and N300,000,000 on December 27, alongside year-end transfers on December 31 totaling N14,285,527.20 and N26,975,000.
Additional transfers extended into early 2025, starting with N19,840,000 and N13,020,000 on February 25, and continuing through March with successive transfers of N16,105,223.70, N56,642,500, N45,923,790, N11,253,500, N49,280,000, N30,720,000, and N28,262,500.
Following the extensive testimony regarding the private account transfers, defense counsels requested another date to cross-examine the witness. Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter to October 22, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination and trial.