Court grants Bauchi finance commissioner N100m bail in terrorism financing trial

A federal high court in Abuja has granted bail to Yakubu Adamu, Bauchi state commissioner for finance, who is standing trial over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering offences involving about $9.7 million.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Mohammed Umar, the presiding judge, admitted Adamu and his co-defendants to bail in the sum of N100 million each, holding that they had placed sufficient materials before the court to merit the exercise of judicial discretion in their favour.

As part of the bail conditions, the judge ordered each defendant to produce two sureties who must be a permanent secretary and a director in the civil service. The court also directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registry.

In addition, Umar ordered Adamu and the three other defendants to report every Monday to the Department of State Services (DSS) office in Bauchi state pending the determination of the case.

The matter was adjourned to February 26 for the commencement of trial.

Adamu, a former branch manager of Polaris Bank in Bauchi, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing and money laundering. He is standing trial alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.

The defendants were arraigned on December 31, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired to provide about $2.3 million in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah, and persons associated with him, based on approvals allegedly granted by Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi state.

The commission alleged that the funds were used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist group, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The EFCC further claimed that the defendants disguised the origin of Bauchi state government funds by routing them through bureau de change operators and nominees before converting the money to US dollars for unlawful purposes.

On January 5, Emeka Nwite, the vacation judge who initially handled the case, refused the defendants’ bail applications, ruling that the alleged offences posed a threat to national security and public safety. On January 13, Nwite remitted the case file to the chief judge of the federal high court for reassignment.