Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, made an order remitting the case file of the Bauchi State Commissioner of Finance, Yakubu Adamu, back to the Chief Judge of the court for reassignment.
The Commissioner is standing trial along with others over complicity in terrorism financing.
Adamu, who is a former manager of a branch of Polaris Bank Plc in Bauchi State, was on December 31, 2025, arraigned on a 10-count charge, alongside three of his alleged accomplices, who were identified as civil servants, Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
The 10-count charge preferred against the Commissioner and his co-defendants by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bordered on conspiracy, conversion of public funds, and alleged terrorism financing, contrary to Section 2(1) and Section 19(1) (d) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants, without recourse to any financial institution, undertook transactions valued at about $9.7 million.
According to the EFCC, sometime between January 2024 and May 2024, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Adamu, working in cahoots with the Accountant-General of the state, Sirajo Jaja, one Samaila Irmiya Liman, and the other three defendants—who were signatories to the Bauchi State Government accounts—gave $2.3 million in cash to the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him.
The prosecution told the court that the cash was handed to Bodejo by the defendants, even though they had reasonable grounds to believe that the said funds would be used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group.
The EFCC further told the court that some of those involved in the crime, including the Bauchi State Accountant-General, Jaja, are currently on the run.
The defendants, who pleaded not guilty to the charge that was read to them in the open court, prayed the court to admit them to bail, pending the hearing and determination of the allegation against them.
The court, in a ruling delivered on January 5, rejected their request for bail on the grounds that the offences with which the defendants are being charged threatened national security and public safety.
Justice Nwite further held that terrorism related offences threatened social order and pre-trial release could endanger the public, hence, such bail cannot be granted.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Nwite granted an application filed by the defendants’ counsel, Mr Goddy Uche, SAN, seeking reassignment of the matter—which had come up during the court’s vacation period—to another judge for hearing.
In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, dated December 30, 2025, Adamu was alleged to have, sometimes in the year 2024, received cash payments in the sum of USD 6,950,000 without passing through a financial institution, in violation to Section 2(1) and Section 19(1) (d) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you Yakubu Adamu(being Commissioner for Finance, Bauchi State Government) Sirajo Jaja (being Accountant-General of Bauchi state now at large), Samaila Irmiya Liman(now at large), Balarabe Abdullahi Illelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed (all being civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government Accounts and/or payment instruments), sometimes between January 2024 and May 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire to provide funds in the aggregate sum of about USD 2,300,000 in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals granted by the executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed, having reasonable grounds to believe, that the said funds would be used, in whole or in part to finance a terrorist or terrorist group, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the terrorism(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”