By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Bauchi State High Court has arraigned the former Accountant-General of the state, Dr. Sa’idu Abubakar, on a 16-count amended charge bordering on alleged fraud, forgery, criminal breach of trust and dishonest conversion involving an estimated N11.01 billion in state funds.
Court documents filed in Charge No. BA/205C/2025 allege that Abubakar, while serving as Accountant-General between 2023 and 2024, secured multiple loan facilities from two banks using forged government documents and channelled the funds through purported motorcycle supply contracts that investigators say never existed.
According to the prosecution, the loans valued at N3 billion, N4.65 billion and N3.36 billion were obtained in the name of the Bauchi State Government for the supply of motorcycles to civil servants but were allegedly diverted for unauthorised purposes.
The state alleged that between December 7, 2023, and January 9, 2024, the former Accountant-General procured a N3 billion facility for the purported supply of 5,000 motorcycles and subsequently converted the funds to personal or unauthorised use.
Prosecutors further accused him of similarly misusing proceeds from a N4.65 billion loan allegedly secured for the supply of 15,000 motorcycles, as well as a N3.36 billion facility purportedly obtained for the procurement of 7,000 motorcycles for civil servants.
The charge sheet alleged that Abubakar deceived officials of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and the Office of the Secretary to the State Government by falsely claiming that the loans had received the requisite approvals of the Governor and the State Executive Council.
Prosecutors contended that the alleged misrepresentations induced the issuance of House of Assembly and Executive Council resolutions which would not otherwise have been granted.
The state also accused the defendant of forging and using as genuine several official documents, including Executive Council resolutions, House of Assembly resolutions and Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs), to secure the disputed facilities.
One of the counts alleged that Abubakar used forged documents, including an Executive Council Resolution dated Monday,8 January, 2024, a House of Assembly Resolution dated Tuesday,9 January 2024, and an ISPO dated Thursday,7 December, 2023, to obtain a N3 billion loan in favour of Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises for a contract involving the supply of 5,000 motorcycles.
The prosecution further alleged that similar forged resolutions and repayment mandates were deployed to obtain the N4.65 billion facility and the N3.36 billion loan, both tied to separate motorcycle procurement arrangements.
In addition, the state alleged that the former Accountant-General knowingly possessed forged government documents and intended to use them to secure unauthorised loans on behalf of the Bauchi State Government.
The final count accused Abubakar of criminal breach of trust, alleging that he procured the loan facilities while acting as a public officer entrusted with the management and control of government funds.
In a summary of facts filed before the court, the prosecution alleged that the defendant made, signed and caused the issuance of unauthorised ISPOs directing loan repayments from Bauchi State Government accounts, including the Consolidated Revenue Fund and Internally Generated Revenue accounts.
The state maintained that the repayment mandates were tied to non-existent motorcycle supply contracts and resulted in the diversion of approximately N11.01 billion belonging to the Bauchi State Government.
The prosecution team, led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN) and Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), listed several key witnesses expected to testify during the trial.
They include the current Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo M. Jaja Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu; Acting Clerk of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hauwa Ahmed Abubakar; and Salisu D. Waziri of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.
Also listed are former House Clerk Umar Yusuf Gital, former Permanent Secretary Danjuma Garba, businessman Emmanuel Asomugha, Debt Management Office official Kassim Ahmed Jibrin, and police investigators who handled various aspects of the probe.
According to witness summaries filed before the court, Assembly and Government House officials are expected to testify that the resolutions allegedly used to obtain the loans were neither considered nor approved by the House of Assembly or the State Executive Council.
The prosecution further indicated that Emmanuel Asomugha would testify on how funds from the disputed facilities were paid into his company’s accounts and subsequently disbursed.
More details here...
