Sirajo Jaja’s trial: Bank official tells court how Bauchi funds were ‘transferred’ to private company
Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with United Bank for
Africa (UBA), has testified in the ongoing trial of Sirajo Jaja, the
accountant-general of Bauchi state, at the federal high court in Abuja.
Abimbola appeared before Obiora Egwuatu, the trial judge, on
Monday to give her testimony in the case.
In June, Jaja was re-arraigned alongside Aliyu Abubakar,
Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose, on a five-count
amended charge bordering on money laundering, theft, and criminal conversion of
public funds.
The defendants were accused of misappropriating public funds
totalling N1,635,270,350. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Jaja has also been facing trial over his alleged involvement
in a N1.48 billion fraud.
THE TESTIMONY
Led in evidence by Ekele Iheanacho, prosecution counsel,
Abimbola alleged that the defendants, who are signatories to Bauchi state
sub-treasury accounts, transferred money from the accounts to JASFAD Resources
Enterprises, managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.
Asked to explain the transaction that happened on October
29, 2024, and other transactions, the witness said three credit transactions
were made from the sub-treasury Bauchi account into JASFAD’s account on the
said date.
Abimbola said JASFAD’s account received N13,144,500,
N17,169,300, and N46,030,500.
The compliance officer said JASFAD’s account received
N17,886,250 on November 7, 2024, the but the teller’s details were not
captured.
According to the banker, eight days later, two credit
transfers of N12,215,000 and N16,919,750 were made into the account by the
order of the sub-treasury Bauchi account.
“On 19 November, 2024, we had another transfer by order of
the sub-treasury Bauchi account for N90,373,550. On November 22,2024, we had a
credit transfer from sub-treasury Bauchi account for N140,087,500,” the
compliance officer said.
“Then on 24 December, 2024, we had two credit transfers by
order of sub-treasury Bauchi Account, the first one is for N24,192,000 and the
second transfer is N48,892,500.
“On 27 December, 2024, we had two credit transfers by order
of sub-treasury Bauchi account into JASFAD, the first is N335,040,000 and the
second transfer is for N300,000,000.
“On 31 December, we had two transfers by order of the
Sub-treasury Bauchi Account of N14,285,527.20k. The second transfer is for
N26,975,000.
“On 25 February, 2025 we had a credit transfer by order of
sub-treasury, Bauchi Account to JASFAD Resources of N19,840,000, and
N13,020,000.
“On March 3, 2025, we had a credit transfer by order of
sub-treasury, Bauchi account for N16,105,223.70k. On March 5, 2025, we had a
credit transfer of N56,642,500.
“On March 7, 2025, we had a credit transfer of N45,923,790,
on March 10, 2025, we had a transfer of N11,253,500.
“On March 12 2025, we had two credit transfer from
sub-treasury Bauchi account to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, the first transfer
is for N49,280,000, the second transfer is for N30,720,000, while on March 14,
2025, we had a credit transfer by order of sub-treasury, Bauchi account of
N28,262,500.”
After the banker’s testimony, counsel to the defendants said
they would take another date to cross-examine the witness.
The judge adjourned the matter to October 22, 2026, for the
cross examination of the witness.
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