The trial of Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, continued on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with a prosecution witness telling the court how funds were allegedly transferred from state accounts to a private company.
Mr 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 money laundering, diversion of public funds and criminal misappropriation.
The defendants are facing an amended five-count charge involving N1,635,270,350.90.
At Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Ekele E. Iheanacho, SAN, called the first prosecution witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa, UBA.
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 a written statement from the bank in support of its case.
According to the prosecution, the defendants, who were signatories to Bauchi State Sub-Treasury accounts, allegedly transferred funds from the accounts to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a private company managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.
When asked by Iheanacho to explain transactions involving JASFAD Resources Enterprises, the witness told the court that three transfers were made from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury account to the company’s account on October 29, 2024.
“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,” she said.
The witness further told the court that N17,886,250 was transferred to JASFAD on November 7, 2024, although the teller details were not captured.
She said two other transfers were made on November 15, 2024, in the sums of N12,215,000 and N16,919,750.
According to her, another N90,373,550 was transferred to the company on November 19, while N140,087,500 was transferred on November 22.
She said two further transfers were made on December 24, 2024, involving N24,192,000 and N48,892,500.
The witness said two transfers were also made on December 27, 2024, involving N335,040,000 and N300 million. She added that another two transfers were made on December 31, 2024, involving N14,285,527.20 and N26,975,000.
Abimbola told the court that the transfers continued in 2025. She said two transfers were made on February 25, 2025, in the sums of N19,840,000 and N13,020,000. She listed other transfers as N16,105,223.70 on March 3; N56,642,500 on March 5; N45,923,790 on March 7; and N11,253,500 on March 10.
According to her, two further transfers were made on March 12, involving N49,280,000 and N30,720,000, while N28,262,500 was transferred on March 14.
The witness also confirmed that three transfers were made on December 27, 2024, saying the first was N335,040,000, the second N300 million and the third N26,975,000.
Counsel to the defendants informed the court that they would cross-examine the witness on another date.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the case until October 22, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination and trial.
Credit: Daily Nigerian