A compliance officer with United Bank for Africa (UBA), Williams Abimbola, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja how funds were allegedly transferred from a Bauchi State Government sub-treasury account to a private company, JASFAD Resources Enterprises.
Abimbola testified on Monday as the first prosecution witness in the trial of Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammed Jaja, and four others.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the defendants on an amended five-count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds and criminal misappropriation involving N1.635 billion.
The other defendants are Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammed Hafiz, Ari Manga and Muhammed Aminu Bose.
According to the prosecution, the defendants were signatories to Bauchi State sub-treasury accounts from which funds were allegedly transferred to JASFAD Resources Enterprises, a company said to be managed by Aliyu Abubakar.
Testifying before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, Abimbola said the bank received requests from law enforcement agencies and responded to enquiries as part of her duties as a compliance officer.
When asked about transactions involving the accounts, she told the court that several payments were made from the Bauchi sub-treasury account to JASFAD.
“My Lord, on the 29 of October 2024, we have three credit transfers into the account of JASFAD from the Sub-treasury Bauchi Account,” she said.
According to her, the three transfers were N13.14 million, N17.17 million and N46.03 million.
The witness further told the court that other transfers were made on various dates between November 2024 and March 2025.
Among the transactions she listed were N140.09 million transferred on November 22, 2024, N335.04 million and N300 million transferred on December 27, 2024, and several other payments running into millions of naira.
“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.”
She also listed further transfers of N16.1 million, N56.64 million, N45.92 million, N11.25 million, N49.28 million, N30.72 million and N28.26 million between March 3 and March 14, 2025.
The witness told the court that the EFCC had produced the state account statement and the bank’s written statement in support of its case.
Defence lawyers told the court they would cross-examine the witness at another sitting.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the case until October 22, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination and further trial.
UBA officer tells court how N1.6bn was allegedly transferred from Bauchi treasury