EFCC arraigns Bauchi Accountant General for alleged corruption
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Jaja, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, for an alleged fraud.
In a statement on Monday night, EFCC’s Head of Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said Jaja was arraigned on Monday 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 U. 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 (Eight Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty Million, Six Hundred and Twenty-six Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty Naira, Ninety-five Kobo).
They pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN) requested a trial date and 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.
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 L. 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.
