The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Jaja, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja for fraud.
Jaja was arraigned alongside a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, and his company, Jasfad Resources Enterprise.
Others involved in the case, who are currently at large, include a former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, the incumbent Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Hammayo, Saleh Mohammed and Balarabe Abdullahi.
The defendants are facing 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.
They pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, requested a trial date .
He also urged the court to remand them in a Correctional Facility, while defence counsel, Mohammed Ndayako, SAN, representing the first and second defendants, and Chris Uche, SAN, representing the third defendant, moved applications for their bail.
Uche informed the court that the third defendant, the Accountant General of Bauchi State, played a central role in the state’s financial operations and was already on administrative bail.
He urged the court to grant him bail on self-recognition or release him to the Attorney General of Bauchi State, who would undertake to produce him in court.
The prosecution counsel, in opposing the applications, drew the attention of the court to the fact that the first defendant had previously jumped administrative bail and further informed the court that the third defendant did not reside in Abuja, which made him a flight risk.
“We filed a 17-paragraph counter-affidavit on April 4, 2025, deposed to by Ogundana Peter Kolawole, alongside a written address. We adopt both and urge the court to refuse the third defendant’s application for bail,” he said.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, Justice Egwuatu granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N200 million each with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties, the court held, must be residents of Abuja, of which one must be a federal government employee not below Grade Level 17 and must present evidence of tax payment for the past three years.
The court further held that the defendants must deposit their passports with the court registrar.
Pending the perfection of their bail conditions, the third defendant was released to the Attorney General of Bauchi State, Hassan Yakubu, SAN, while Jaja, the first defendant was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The matter was adjourned till June 17, 2025, for commencement of trial.
