The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, re-arraigned the Bauchi State’s Accountant General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
Jaja was arraigned alongside a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar whose trading name is Jasfad Resources Enterprise. Other defendants at large are
Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose.
They are facing prosecution on a five-count amended charge bordering on money laundering, stealing and conversion of public funds to the tune of N1,488,425,629.000 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Eighty-eight Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-nine Naira only).
They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting counsel to first and second defendant, Gordy Uche, SAN and Chris Uche, SAN, respectively to pray the court to allow the subsisting bail of the defendants to continue to prevail and further asked the court for adjournment to allow them study the amended charge. Their plea on the bail was not objected to by the prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN.
Justice Egwuatu upheld that the subsisting bail of the defendants should continue and adjourned the matter till July 21, 2025 for commencement of trial.
