The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, and an unlicensed Bureau de Change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, over an alleged N1.63 billion money laundering case.
The defendants were re-arraigned on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, before Justice O. A. Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja during court proceedings on an amended charge.
Recall that on April 7, 2025, the same court granted bail of N200 million each to Jaja and Abubakar in a multi-million naira alleged money laundering case instituted by the EFCC, bringing the total bail to N400 million.
A year after they were granted bail, the duo were re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge bordering on the conversion of public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government and money laundering to the tune of N1,635,270,350.9 before Justice Egwuatu.
In count two, the EFCC alleged that the defendants transferred funds from a Bauchi State Sub-Treasury account into a private account linked to Jasfad Resources Enterprise, stating that they converted “N1,290,154,337.2” of public funds.
Similarly, in count three, the commission accused the defendants and others at large of converting additional public funds within a different period, amounting to “N426,116,013.7”.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their plea, defence counsel, Gordy Uche, SAN, and Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to allow them to continue enjoying the bail earlier granted, a request that was not opposed by the prosecution.
