A compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), Williams Abimbola, testified before Judge Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court about transactions involving the account of JASFAD Resources Enterprises. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the accountant-general of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, and four others on five money laundering charges. The charges involve alleged diversion of public funds and criminal misappropriation of N1.63 billion.
Mrs. Abimbola narrated how several transactions passed from the Bauchi State sub-treasury account into the account of JASFAD Resources Enterprises. She led in evidence transactions involving the JASFAD account with multiple transfers recorded between October 2024 and March 2025. On October 29, 2024, three credit transfers into the account of JASFAD from the Sub-treasury Bauchi Account were recorded. The transfers were N13,144,500, N17,169,300, and N46,030,500.
The witness continued to detail transactions recorded in November 2024. On November 7, a credit transfer of N17,886,250 was made, but the teller's details were not captured. On November 15, two credit transfers of N12,215,000 and N16,919,750 were made. On November 19, a transfer of N90,373,550 was made, and on November 22, a credit transfer of N140,087,500 was recorded.
In December 2024, more transfers into the account were recorded. On December 24, two credit transfers of N24,192,000 and N48,892,500 were made. On December 27, two credit transfers of N335,040,000 and N300,000,000 were recorded. On December 31, two transfers of N14,285,527.20 and N26,975,000 were made.
The transactions continued in 2025. On February 25, 2025, two credit transfers of N19,840,000 and N13,020,000 were made. On March 3, a credit transfer of N16,105,223.70 was recorded. On March 5, a credit transfer of N56,642,500 was made, and on March 7, a credit transfer of N45,923,790 was recorded.
The EFCC tendered the state account statement and the bank's written statement in support of its case. Defence lawyers indicated that they would need another date to cross-examine Mrs. Abimbola. Consequently, Judge Egwuatu adjourned the case until October 22 for continuation of the witness's cross-examination.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants, as signatories to Bauchi State sub-treasury accounts, transferred public funds from the state accounts to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, which it says was managed by one of the defendants, Aliyu Abubakar. The present charge arose from an earlier case in which the accountant-general and Mr. Abubakar were arraigned in April 2025 over alleged diversion and laundering of Bauchi State funds.
Key points
- The accountant-general of Bauchi State and four others are being prosecuted on five money laundering charges involving alleged diversion of public funds and criminal misappropriation of N1.63 billion.
- A UBA compliance officer testified about alleged transfers of Bauchi State funds into a private company's account linked to the accountant-general and others.
- The case was adjourned until October 22 for continuation of the witness's cross-examination.
