A witness from United Bank for Africa (UBA) on Monday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how millions of naira were allegedly transferred from Bauchi State’s sub-treasury account to a private company linked to one of the defendants in a corruption trial.
The witness, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer with UBA, gave the testimony during the trial of Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, and four others before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
Jaja is standing trial alongside Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose over alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds and criminal misappropriation involving N1.635 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the defendants on an amended five-count charge.
At Monday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, called Abimbola as the first prosecution witness.
Abimbola told the court that her duties as a compliance officer included responding to requests and enquiries from law enforcement agencies and other responsibilities assigned by the bank’s Chief Compliance Officer.
The EFCC tendered the Bauchi State account statement and a written statement from the bank as part of its evidence.
While being led in evidence by Iheanacho, the witness narrated several transactions involving transfers from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a company allegedly managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.
According to her, three transfers were made from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account to JASFAD Resources Enterprises on October 29, 2024.
She identified the transfers as N13.14 million, N17.16 million and N46.03 million.
The witness further told the court that N17.88 million was transferred to the company on November 7, 2024.
She said two additional transfers of N12.21 million and N16.91 million were made on November 15.
On November 19, she said, another N90.37 million was transferred from the state sub-treasury account. Four days later, on November 22, N140.08 million was transferred to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, according to the witness.
She also testified that two transfers of N24.19 million and N48.89 million were made to the company on December 24, 2024.
The transactions continued on December 27, when N335.04 million and N300 million were transferred to the account, she said.
Abimbola told the court that further transfers were made on December 31, including N14.28 million and N26.97 million.
She also gave details of several transactions between February and March 2025.
According to her, N19.84 million and N13.02 million were transferred to JASFAD Resources Enterprises on February 25, 2025.
She said N16.10 million was transferred on March 3, followed by N56.64 million on March 5 and N45.92 million on March 7.
The witness further identified an N11.25 million transfer on March 10, while two separate transfers of N49.28 million and N30.72 million were made on March 12.
Another N28.26 million was transferred to the company on March 14, she said.
The witness reiterated that the transactions were carried out by order of the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants, who were signatories to the Bauchi State sub-treasury accounts, transferred public funds from the accounts to JASFAD Resources Enterprises.
The prosecution alleges that the transactions formed part of a scheme involving the diversion and criminal misappropriation of N1.635 billion belonging to Bauchi State.
Following the completion of the prosecution’s examination of the witness, lawyers representing the defendants requested another date to cross-examine her.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the case until October 22, 2026, for cross-examination of the witness and continuation of trial.
