Court denies Bauchi Attorney General's requestto travel abroad during N1.6 billion trial

Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday denied an application filed by Bauchi State Accountant General Sirajo Muhammad Jaja that sought permission to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a religious pilgrimage and a medical check‑up while his trial is still pending.

Jaja is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) together with Aliyu Abubakar, who is accused of operating an unlicensed bureau de change, on an amended five‑count charge that includes money‑laundering allegations and the alleged conversion of funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government.

The prosecution alleges that the case involves N1,635,270,350.90, which it describes as proceeds from unlawful financial transactions.

During Tuesday’s hearing, after the cross‑examination of the first prosecution witness, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA), defence counsel Chris Uche, SAN, told the court that his client had submitted an application requesting the temporary release of his international passport so he could travel for two weeks.

The defence said the request was intended to allow Jaja to perform the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia and to attend to his medical needs, and noted that the prosecution had already responded to the motion.

Prosecution counsel Abba Mohammed, SAN, opposed the application, arguing that Jaja posed a flight risk and pointing out that other individuals linked to the charge remain at large.

In a ten‑paragraph counter‑affidavit filed on 13 March 2026, the prosecution urged the court to reject the request, asserting that it had provided sufficient grounds for its opposition.

After weighing the arguments from both sides, Justice Egwuatu dismissed the application.

The court then adjourned the matter to 30 June 2026 for further trial proceedings.