The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Mr Sirajo Jaja, the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, alongside Bureau de Change operator Aliyu Abubakar, on charges related to money laundering.
The pair appeared before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they were presented with a five-count amended charge. Both defendants entered a plea of not guilty.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the EFCC initially arraigned Jaja, Abubakar, and his company, Jasfad Resources Enterprise, as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants respectively, on April 7.
In the recent amendments, Abubakar is now designated as the 1st defendant in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2025, with Jaja as the 2nd defendant.
During the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Senior Advocate Abba Mohammed informed the court about an amended charge filed on June 16.
“May I bring to the court’s attention the proof of evidence submitted on May 30 and another on June 16. We request that the amended charge be read to the defendants,” Mohammed stated.
The defence attorneys, Gordy Uche and Chief Chris Uche, did not oppose the reading of the charges.
After the charges were presented, both defendants maintained their not guilty pleas. The defence lawyers subsequently requested that the previously granted bail remain in effect, to which the EFCC’s counsel did not object. The judge allowed the defendants to continue under the existing bail conditions.
When Mohammed indicated that a witness was present to provide evidence, the defence lawyers requested an adjournment to prepare adequately for their clients.
“We must request an adjournment. The additional proof of evidence, particularly the second one, was just delivered to us late yesterday. I have not had the chance to discuss it with my client,” Abubakar’s lawyer explained.
Chief Uche echoed this sentiment on behalf of Jaja, seeking a similar adjournment.
No opposition was raised, and Justice Egwuatu scheduled the next hearing for July 21 to commence the trial.
The EFCC’s first charge alleges that Abubakar, operating as Jasfad Resources Enterprise, Jaja, and several others currently at large conspired between 2024 and 2025 to commit money laundering offences. They are accused of misappropriating public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government, allegedly transferring these funds from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account held at the United Bank for Africa.
This action is said to contravene Section 21(a) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The funds were reportedly transferred into the account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise at the same bank, violating Sections 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions Act Cap F34 LFN 2010, and punishable under Section 29(2) of the same Act, among other charges.
