The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has once again taken the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, and a bureau de change (BDC) operator, Aliyu Abubakar, to court. They are being accused of being involved in a fraud case worth N1.4 billion.

Sirajo Jaja and Aliyu Abubakar, who does business under the name Jasfad Resources Enterprise, were brought before Justice O.A. Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. They face five charges which include money laundering, stealing, and misusing government funds.

Three more people—Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga, and Muhammed Aminu Bose—were also linked to the case, but they are currently on the run and have not been caught yet.

EFCC said the group moved a total of N1,488,425,629 from the Bauchi State Government’s funds between October 2024 and March 2025. This money was allegedly taken without following the proper process.

One part of the charges states that from late October to the end of December 2024, the suspects moved N1.19 billion from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury account to Jasfad Resources Enterprise’s bank account. Both accounts are said to be in UBA.

Another part of the case says they moved an extra N296 million from January to March 2025 in the same way, also using the state’s funds.

When the charges were read in court, all the accused pleaded not guilty.

The lawyers representing the defendants, Gordy Uche and Chris Uche, asked the judge to keep the same bail conditions that were previously given. They also asked for more time to go over the new charges.

The EFCC lawyer, Abba Muhammed, did not argue against the bail request.

Justice Egwuatu agreed to continue with the old bail terms. He also set the next court date for July 21, 2025, when the actual trial will begin.