The Bauchi State Government has strongly condemned the arrest of its Accountant General by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, describing it as a politically motivated move that undermines due process.
DAILY POST reports that EFCC arrested Alhaji Sirajo Mohammed Jaja, the Accountant General of Bauchi State, over an alleged N70 billion fraud.
Jaja was apprehended in Abuja on Wednesday alongside Aliyu Abubakar of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, an unlicensed Bureau de Change, BDC, operator, and Sunusi Ibrahim Sambo, a Point of Sale, PoS operator.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the arrest in a statement issued in Abuja, stating that it was part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds, and misappropriation of state resources.
Reacting to the arrest in a statement issued on Thursday, the Bauchi State Government expressed surprise over EFCC’s decision to apprehend the official in Abuja while he was attending a Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC meeting.
The statement, issued by Governor Bala Mohammed’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, maintained that the matter was already under investigation by the Bauchi State Anti-Corruption Agency, led by a retired EFCC veteran, DIG Sani Mohammed.
“The EFCC is well aware of our ongoing efforts, which have led to the removal, arrest, and investigation of the former Accountant General and several permanent secretaries. Yet, they chose to sensationalise this case, fuelling unnecessary drama and suspicion,” the statement read.
The state government accused the anti-graft agency of engaging in media trials and political witch-hunting, questioning the timing and manner of the arrest.
It reaffirmed the state’s commitment to transparency, vowing to resist any attempts to undermine its governance through the “arbitrary treatment” of officials.
While pledging cooperation with EFCC, the Bauchi State Government called for fairness and objectivity in the fight against corruption, warning against turning anti-corruption efforts into political manoeuvring.
Bauchi Government condemns arrest of accountant general
