Court Returns Bauchi Commissioner’s Terrorism Financing Case for Reassignment
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, on Tuesday directed that the case file involving the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment. The order followed the court’s resumption from its vacation.
Adamu, a former branch manager of Polaris Bank in Bauchi State, is standing trial alongside three other Bauchi State civil servants—Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed—on a 10‑count charge of terrorism financing and money laundering brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The defendants were arraigned on 31 December 2025 and pleaded not guilty to all counts. On 5 January 2026, Justice Nwite refused their bail applications, ruling that the alleged offences posed threats to national security and public safety. He ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed 13 January 2026 for trial, with a directive for accelerated hearing.
However, when the matter was called on Tuesday, no counsel appeared for the prosecution. Defence counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, reminded the court that the earlier adjournment was fixed because the court was sitting as a vacation court. He noted that the defendants had been produced from custody in compliance with the adjournment.
Uche further informed the court that he had encountered Adebayo Ojo, SAN, in another courtroom, who disclosed that he had been newly briefed to represent the EFCC, with junior counsel expected to appear. When Justice Nwite inquired if any of Ojo’s juniors were present, there was no response.
Observing that the matter was handled during the vacation, Justice Nwite consequently ordered that the case file be returned to the registry for reassignment by the Chief Judge.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, was filed on 30 December 2025 by EFCC counsel, Samuel Chime. In the first count, Adamu, together with the Bauchi State Accountant‑General, Sirajo Jaja, and Samaila Irmiya Liman (both now at large), as well as the other defendants, were alleged to have conspired between January and May 2024 to provide funds amounting to $2.3 million for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, purportedly pursuant to approvals granted by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
The EFCC alleges that the funds were used wholly or partly to finance terrorism, contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
