The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, the Bauchi state accountant-general of Bauchi, over alleged N8.3 billion fraud.
On Monday, the EFCC arraigned Jaja alongside Aliyu Abubakar, a bureau de change operator, and his company, Jasfad Resources Enterprise.
The defendants were arraigned on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds, and criminal misappropriation of funds to the tune of N8,380,626,430.95.
The arraignment took place before O.A. Egwuatu, a judge at the federal high court in Abuja.
“That you, Aliyu Abubakar, Jasfad Resources Enterprise (a Bureau de Change operator), and Ibrahim Kashim (former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, now at large), sometime between January 5, 2024, and December 10, 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence to wit: money laundering by converting and transferring the sum of Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Eight Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, One Hundred Naira (N2,808,595,100.00) of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government from the Bauchi State Expenditure Account, domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1022197086 into the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, also domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1023444660, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” part of the charge sheet reads.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Other defendants, including Ibrahim Kashim, a former secretary to the Bauchi state government; Aminu Hammayo, secretary to the Bauchi government; Saleh Mohammed; and Balarabe Abdullahi, are currently at large.
After the defendants took their pleas, Abba Mohammed, the counsel to the prosecution, asked for a trial date and prayed that the defendants be remanded at the correctional facility.
However, Mohammed Ndayako, the defence counsel representing the first and second defendants, and Chris Uche, counsel to the third defendant, moved applications for their clients’ bail.
Uche told the court that the Bauchi accountant-general, who is the third defendant, played an important role in the financial operations of the state, noting that he is already on administrative bail.
The counsel prayed that the court grant Jaja bail on self-recognition or release him to the attorney-general of Bauchi, who would undertake to produce him in court.
Opposing the application, the prosecution counsel told the court that the third defendant is not residing in Abuja, arguing that he is a flight risk.
After listening to the arguments, Egwuatu granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N200 million each with two sureties in like sum.
The trial judge ruled that the two sureties must be residents of Abuja, and one of them must be a federal government employee not below grade level 17.
The sureties must present evidence of tax payment for the past three years.
The judge also ordered the defendants to submit their passports to the court registrar.
Pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions, the court released the third defendant to Hassan Yakubu, attorney-general of Bauchi state.
The other defendant was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The case was adjourned to June 17 for commencement of trial.
