Court Rejects Bauchi Accountant-General’s Request to Travel for Hajj Amid ₦1.6bn Money Laundering Trial
Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed an application by Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, seeking leave to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Muslim pilgrimage and medical check-up.
Jaja, who is standing trial alongside Aliyu Abubakar, an unlicensed bureau de change operator, faces a five-count amended charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged conversion of Bauchi State funds and money laundering amounting to ₦1.635 billion.
At Tuesday’s sitting, defence counsel Chris Uche, SAN, requested temporary release of Jaja’s passport to enable the trip. However, EFCC counsel Abba Muhammed, SAN, opposed the application, arguing that the defendant posed a flight risk, especially as other parties in the case remain at large.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu struck out the application and adjourned the matter to June 30, 2026, for continuation of trial.
