EFCC Re-Arraigns Bauchi Accountant-General and BDC Operator Over Alleged ₦1.63 Billion Money Laundering

Bauchi AG Sirajo Jaja and a BDC operator face trial for allegedly siphoning ₦1.63bn from the state treasury into private accounts.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 29, 2026, 8:38 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Nigerian

Amended Charges and Court Proceedings

On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented an amended five-count charge against Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, and Aliyu Abubakar, who operates Jasfad Resources Enterprises. The duo is accused of laundering ₦1,635,270,350.90 between October 2024 and March 2025. The re-arraignment before Justice O.A. Egwuatu follows a restructuring of the original 2025 case, now listing Abubakar as the first defendant and Jaja as the second.

The Mechanics of the Alleged Fraud

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants conspired with individuals currently at large to siphon funds from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account, domiciled at United Bank for Africa (UBA), into the private accounts of Jasfad Resources Enterprises. One specific count details the laundering of ₦1.29 billion in late 2024, while another outlines an additional ₦426.1 million moved in early 2025. The EFCC maintains that these transactions contravene the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.

Bank Compliance Testimony

The prosecution opened its case with testimony from Abimbola Williams, a UBA compliance officer. Williams presented certified account statements showing a pattern of frequent, high-value transfers. Her evidence highlighted specific transactions, including multiple transfers on October 29 and 30, 2024, ranging from ₦7.1 million to ₦50 million. In total, the witness identified at least 18 distinct transfers from the state treasury to the BDC operator’s business account during the period under investigation.