Court Denies Bail to Former Bauchi Accountant-General Over Alleged N11 Billion Loan Fraud

Umar Usman Duguri

A Bauchi State High Court has denied bail to the former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Dr. Sa’idu Abubakar, who is standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents, cheating, and misappropriation of public funds.

Dr. Abubakar was arraigned before the High Court in Bauchi over allegations that he fraudulently secured multiple loan facilities totaling more than N11 billion from United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Polaris Bank Plc on behalf of the Bauchi State Government using allegedly forged documents and without the requisite approvals.

The prosecution alleged that the loans were obtained for purported motorcycle supply contracts for civil servants, which it described as non-existent. According to the charge, the funds involved include N3 billion, N4.65 billion, and N3.36 billion loan facilities allegedly secured through forged State Executive Council resolutions, House of Assembly resolutions, and Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs).

The defendant was further accused of dishonestly converting public funds, deceiving government officials into issuing resolutions, possessing forged documents, and committing criminal breach of trust while serving as Accountant-General of the state.

At the hearing, counsel to the defendant applied for bail, urging the court to release his client pending the determination of the case. However, the prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the charges were serious and that the interests of justice required the defendant to remain in custody.

In a ruling, the court refused the bail application and ordered that Dr. Abubakar remain in custody at the Bauchi Correctional Centre pending the continuation of his trial.

The case was subsequently adjourned to a later date for further proceedings.

The prosecution team is led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN), while the defendant is represented by a team of lawyers led by Isiyaku Ibrahim (SAN) and Mahmud Abubakar Magaji (SAN).