The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, along with bureau de change operator Aliyu Abubakar and his company, Jasfad Resources Enterprise, on charges of alleged fraud amounting to ₦8.3 billion. The arraignment took place on April 7, 2025, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The nine-count charge includes allegations of money laundering, diversion of public funds, and criminal misappropriation. Specifically, between January 5 and December 10, 2024, the defendants are accused of transferring ₦2,808,595,100 from the Bauchi State Expenditure Account into Jasfad Resources Enterprise’s account.
Other individuals implicated, currently at large, include former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim; the incumbent Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Hammayo; Saleh U. Mohammed; and Balarabe Abdullahi.
All defendants present pleaded not guilty. The court granted them bail set at ₦200 million each, requiring two sureties residing in Abuja, one of whom must be a federal government employee not below Grade Level 17 with evidence of tax payment for the past three years. Pending fulfillment of these conditions, the third defendant was released to the Attorney General of Bauchi State, Hassan L. Yakubu, SAN, while the first defendant was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja. The trial is scheduled to commence on June 17, 2025.
