Bauchi AG Accused Of Moving State Funds To Private Company As EFCC Witness Reveals Details

A compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), Williams Abimbola, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja how a series of payments were allegedly transferred from a Bauchi State Government sub-treasury account to JASFAD Resources Enterprises.

Abimbola appeared as the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Bauchi State Account-General, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, and four other defendants before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

The defendants — Jaja, Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose — are facing an amended five-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC alleges that the defendants were involved in money laundering, diversion of public funds and criminal misappropriation involving approximately N1.635 billion.

During proceedings, prosecution counsel, Ekele E. Iheanacho, SAN, called Abimbola to testify and presented financial records, including a statement of account, in support of the prosecution’s case.

The witness told the court that part of her responsibilities as a UBA compliance officer includes responding to requests and enquiries from law enforcement agencies and carrying out other duties assigned by the bank’s Chief Compliance Officer.

According to her testimony, several transactions were recorded as transfers from the Bauchi State sub-treasury account into the account of JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a company allegedly managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.

While responding to questions from the prosecution, Abimbola detailed a series of transactions involving substantial sums of money.

She told the court that on October 29, 2024, three transfers were made into JASFAD’s account from the Bauchi sub-treasury account. The amounts were N13.144 million, N17.169 million and N46.030 million respectively.

The witness further testified that another N17.886 million was transferred on November 7, 2024, followed by two transfers of N12.215 million and N16.919 million on November 15.

She said a further N90.373 million was transferred on November 19, while N140.087 million was credited to the JASFAD account on November 22.

Abimbola also told the court that two additional transfers of N24.192 million and N48.892 million were made on December 24, 2024.

According to her, December 27 witnessed further substantial transactions, including transfers of N335.040 million and N300 million into the JASFAD account.

She also listed other transactions allegedly made from the Bauchi sub-treasury account between December 2024 and March 2025, including transfers of N14.285 million and N26.975 million on December 31.

The witness said the transactions continued in 2025, with transfers of N19.840 million and N13.020 million recorded on February 25. She further listed transactions of N16.105 million on March 3, N56.642 million on March 5, N45.923 million on March 7 and N11.253 million on March 10.

She told the court that on March 12, two additional transfers of N49.280 million and N30.720 million were made, while another N28.262 million was transferred on March 14, 2025.

The prosecution is relying on the transaction records as part of its evidence in the case. The defendants’ lawyers indicated that they would cross-examine the witness at a later date.

Following the proceedings, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the case until October 22, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination and further hearing of the trial.