Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday turned down an application by Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, the Accountant General of Bauchi State, seeking permission to visit Saudi Arabia for Umrah and medical reasons while facing trial.
The judge ruled after hearing arguments from both sides, rejecting the request to temporarily release Jaja’s international passport. The defendant is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Aliyu Abubakar, an alleged unlicensed bureau de change operator, on amended five-count charges related to money laundering and illegal conversion of state funds.
The alleged sum involved is N1,635,270,350.90, which the prosecution claims are proceeds from unlawful financial transactions. During Tuesday’s session, after cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer from United Bank for Africa (UBA), defense counsel Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court about the application. He argued that Jaja needed to perform the lesser Hajj and attend to medical issues, noting that the prosecution had already responded.
However, prosecution counsel Abba Mohammed, SAN, opposed the motion, describing the defendant as a flight risk and pointing out that other individuals linked to the charges remain at large. In a 10-paragraph counter-affidavit filed on March 13, 2026, the prosecution urged the court to decline the request, asserting sufficient grounds for opposition.
After considering the submissions, Justice Egwuatu dismissed the application. The court adjourned the case to June 30, 2026, for continuation of trial proceedings.