Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, seeking permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and medical treatment amid his ongoing ₦1.6 billion money laundering trial.
Jaja is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Aliyu Abubakar, an alleged unlicensed bureau de change operator, over accusations bordering on conversion of Bauchi State funds and money laundering amounting to over ₦1.63 billion.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, Jaja’s counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court that his client was seeking temporary release of his international passport to enable him travel to Saudi Arabia for two weeks for the Muslim pilgrimage and medical check-up.
However, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN, strongly opposed the request, arguing that the defendant posed a flight risk, especially as some other suspects linked to the case were still at large.
“The prosecution opposed the application with a 10-paragraph affidavit and provided cogent reasons why the defendant should not travel,” the prosecutor told the court.
After listening to arguments from both parties, Justice Egwuatu struck out the application and declined permission for the trip.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till June 30, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants were involved in the illegal conversion and laundering of funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government through suspicious financial transactions.
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