Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, seeking permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage and medical check-up amid his ongoing trial over alleged N1.6 billion money laundering.
Jaja is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside Aliyu Abubakar, an alleged unlicensed bureau de change operator, on an amended five-count charge bordering on alleged diversion and laundering of Bauchi State Government funds amounting to N1,635,270,350.09.
The matter came up on Tuesday following the conclusion of the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa, UBA. During proceedings, counsel to the second defendant, Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court that his client had filed an application seeking temporary release of his international passport to enable him travel to Saudi Arabia for two weeks.
“Before adjourning, there is an application. The second defendant wants to travel outside for two weeks. It is a temporary application for the release of his passport,” Uche told the court, adding that the defence had received the prosecution’s response and was yet to file a further reply.
Responding, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN, urged the court to reject the request, insisting that the defendant posed a flight risk. According to him, the prosecution had already filed a 10-paragraph counter-affidavit opposing the application.
“The prosecution opposed the application of the second defendant with a 10 paragraph affidavit filed on 13 March, 2026. We rely on all the deposition and annexures. We provided cogent reasons, the facts are there. We rely on them and we urge the court to reject the application,” Muhammed said.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu struck out the application, effectively denying the Bauchi State Accountant General permission to travel abroad while the criminal proceedings remain ongoing. The court subsequently adjourned the matter until June 30, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The EFCC had accused the defendants of conspiring to convert and launder public funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government through illegal financial transactions. The anti-graft agency maintains that the alleged offences contravene provisions of Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
