A compliance officer with United Bank for Africa, UBA, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja how millions of naira were transferred from Bauchi State Sub-Treasury accounts to a private company allegedly linked to a defendant in an ongoing corruption trial.
The witness, Williams Abimbola, gave the evidence on Monday during the trial of Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, and four others before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Jaja alongside Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose on an amended five-count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds and criminal misappropriation involving N1.635 billion.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, Abimbola, a compliance officer with UBA, explained several transactions involving the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury account and JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a company managed by the first defendant, Aliyu Abubakar.
The EFCC tendered the state account statement and a written statement from the bank in support of its case.
Abimbola told the court that on October 29, 2024, three separate transfers were made from the Bauchi Sub-Treasury account into JASFAD’s account.
She identified the transactions as N13.14 million, N17.17 million and N46.03 million.
The witness further listed several other transfers allegedly made from the state account to the company between November 2024 and March 2025.
They included N17.89 million transferred on November 7; N12.22 million and N16.92 million on November 15; N90.37 million on November 19; and N140.09 million on November 22, 2024.
According to her, two further transfers of N24.19 million and N48.89 million were made on December 24, 2024.
She said JASFAD also received N335.04 million and N300 million on December 27, 2024, while another N26.98 million transfer was recorded on December 31.
The witness told the court that the transfers continued in 2025, including N19.84 million and N13.02 million on February 25, N16.11 million on March 3, N56.64 million on March 5 and N45.92 million on March 7.
She also listed a transfer of N11.25 million on March 10, followed by two transfers of N49.28 million and N30.72 million on March 12, and another N28.26 million transfer on March 14.
Abimbola said the transactions were reflected as credit transfers made by order of the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury account.
During the proceedings, the witness also clarified transactions recorded on December 27, 2024, stating that three transfers were made that day — N335.04 million, N300 million and N26.98 million.
Defence counsel informed the court that they would cross-examine the witness at another sitting.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the case until October 22, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination and trial.
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