By Mary Izuaka

 

A compliance officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA) on Monday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, allegedly diverted state funds to a private company.

Jaja is standing trial alongside four others, Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose, over the alleged diversion of N1.6 billion.

The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended five-count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds and criminal misappropriation.

The charge is to the tune of N1,635,270,350.90.

The case continued on Monday, September 21, 2026, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

Prosecution counsel, Ekele E. Iheanacho, SAN, told the court the matter was for trial and called the first prosecution witness, PW1.

The witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with UBA, said her duties include receiving requests from law enforcement agencies, responding to enquiries and other duties assigned by the bank’s Chief Compliance Officer.

The EFCC tendered the state account statement and written statement of the bank in support of its case.

It alleged that the defendants, as signatories to Bauchi State sub-treasury accounts, transferred monies from the sub-treasury accounts to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a company managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.

Giving details of the transactions, Ms Abimbola said on October 29, 2024, three credit transfers were made from the Bauchi Sub-Treasury account into the account of JASFAD.

“My Lord, on the 29 of October 2024, we have three credit transfers into the account of JASFAD from the Bauchi Sub-Treasury 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 told the court.

She added that on November 7, 2024, there was a credit transfer of N17,886,250, but the teller details were not captured.

“On 15 November, we had two credit transfers transferred by order of the Sub-Treasury, Bauchi Account; the amounts are N12,215,000 and N16,919,750 respectively.

“On 19 November, 2024, we had another transfer by order of the Sub-Treasury Bauchi account for N90,373,550. On November 22, 2024, we had a credit transfer from the Sub-Treasury Bauchi account for N140,087,500,” she said.

The witness further listed transactions on December 24, 2024, as N24,192,000 and N48,892,500, while on December 27, 2024, three transfers were made – N335,040,000, N300,000,000 and N26,975,000.

She said that on December 31, transfers of N14,285,527.20 and N26,975,000 were made by order of the Sub-treasury Bauchi Account.

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According to her, on February 25, 2025, there were two credits from the sub-treasury account to JASFAD Resources – N19,840,000 and N13,020,000, while on March 3, 2025, N16,105,223.70 was transferred.

She added that on March 5, 2025, there was a credit transfer of N56,642,500; on March 7, a transfer of N45,923,790; and on March 10, a transfer of N11,253,500.

“On March 12, 2025, we had two credit transfers from the sub-treasury Bauchi account to JASFAD Resources Enterprises; the first transfer is for N49,280,000, the second transfer is for N30,720,000, while on March 14, 2025, we had a credit transfer by order of sub-treasury, Bauchi account of N28,262,500,” the witness said.

Counsel to the defendants said they would need another date to cross-examine the witness.

Justice Egwuatu thereafter adjourned the matter to October 22, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination and trial.