EFCC Re-arraigns Bauchi Accountant General and BDC Boss Over ₦1.6bn Fraud; Justice Egwuatu Orders Trial to Proceed as Defendants Plead Not Guilty

The Federal High Court in Abuja has become the focal point of a high-stakes anti-corruption battle as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned the Bauchi State Accountant General, Sirajo Jaja, over an alleged ₦1.6 billion heist of public funds. In a Tuesday session on April 28, 2026, Jaja stood alongside his co-defendant, Aliyu Abubakar, to face a newly amended five-count charge that seeks to pin down the “digital-age” trail of diverted state resources.

The prosecution, led by Abba Mohammed, SAN, detailed a sophisticated scheme in which over ₦1.63 billion was allegedly siphoned from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury. Investigators claim the funds were funneled through various unauthorized channels into the accounts of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, a BDC firm operated by Abubakar. The EFCC maintains that these transfers, which occurred between late 2024 and early 2025, violated the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and represented a massive “criminal breach of trust.”

Taking the dock before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, both Jaja and Abubakar appeared composed as they entered a plea of “not guilty.” The defense team, featuring high-profile legal heavyweights, successfully argued for the continuation of the bail terms initially granted to the defendants in April 2025. With no objection from the EFCC counsel, the judge ruled that the duo could remain on their current bail as the court prepares for the commencement of the full trial.

This legal confrontation marks a significant escalation in the EFCC’s scrutiny of sub-national finances. As Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration enters the “final trenches” of its second term, the trial of his chief accountant is being viewed by many as a barometer for accountability in the North-East. The court has signaled that it will not tolerate further delays in the case, which has seen multiple amendments since its inception.

With the next hearing date set for later this year, the Bauchi state government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the AG’s continued service while under trial. For now, the ₦1.6 billion case remains a potent reminder of the “Renewed Hope” administration’s stated commitment to tracking every kobo of public money, even as the 2027 electoral gears begin to turn.