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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The trial of Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, continued yesterday before the Federal High Court, Abuja, with a prosecution witness narrating how funds from the state’s Sub-Treasury Account were transferred to a private company.
Jaja is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose, over alleged corruption.
The defendants are facing an amended five-count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds and criminal misappropriation involving N1.6 billion.
Prosecution counsel, Ekele E. Iheanacho, SAN, told the court that the matter was for trial before calling the first prosecution witness, PW1, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), to testify.
Abimbola told the court that her duties included receiving requests from law enforcement agencies, responding to enquiries and carrying out other assignments from the bank’s Chief Compliance Officer.
The EFCC tendered the Bauchi State account statement and the bank’s written statement in support of its case.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants, who were signatories to Bauchi State Sub-Treasury accounts, transferred funds from the accounts to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a company allegedly managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.
Asked by Iheanacho to explain transactions carried out on October 29, 2024, and subsequent transactions, the witness said three credit transfers were made from the Bauchi Sub-Treasury Account into JASFAD’s account on that date.
She said: “My Lord, on the 29th of October 2024, we have three credit transfers into the account of JASFAD from the Sub-Treasury Bauchi Account.
“We have a transfer of N13,144,500, we also had a transfer of N17,169,300, and there is a transfer of N46,030,500.”
Giving further details, Abimbola said N17,886,250 was transferred to JASFAD on November 7, 2024, although the teller’s details were not captured.
She said two other transfers, amounting to N12,215,000 and N16,919,750, were made on November 15, followed by N90,373,550 on November 19.
According to her, N140,087,500 was transferred from the Sub-Treasury Account to JASFAD on November 22, 2024.
She further testified that two transfers of N24,192,000 and N48,892,500 were made on December 24, 2024.
On December 27, she said, N335,040,000 and N300 million were transferred to JASFAD.
The witness added that two further transfers of N14,285,527.20 and N26,975,000 were made on December 31.
She told the court that on February 25, 2025, two transfers of N19,840,000 and N13,020,000 were made to JASFAD.
Other transactions she listed included N16,105,223.70 on March 3; N56,642,500 on March 5; N45,923,790 on March 7; N11,253,500 on March 10; N49,280,000 and N30,720,000 on March 12; and N28,262,500 on March 14, 2025.
The witness also confirmed that three transfers were made on December 27, 2024, namely N335,040,000, N300 million and N26,975,000.
Counsel to the defendants informed the court that they would cross-examine the witness at the next adjourned date.
Justice Egwuatu thereafter adjourned the case until October 22, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination and trial.
