Alleged terrorism financing: Judge returns Bauchi Finance commissioner’s case back to Chief Justice

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, January 13, returned the case file involving Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, to the Chief Judge of the court for reassignment. The decision followed the end of vacation court proceedings and the resumption of regular judicial activities. Adamu, a former Polaris Bank branch manager in Bauchi, is standing trial alongside three civil servants Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed on a 10-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering involving 9.7 million dollars. The defendants were arraigned on December 31, 2025 and pleaded not guilty. On January 5, Justice Nwite declined their bail applications, citing national security concerns, and ordered that they be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre. The court also granted accelerated hearing and fixed January 13 for trial commencement. However, at the resumed hearing on Monday, no lawyer appeared for the EFCC. Counsel to the defendants, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court that during the January 5 sitting, the judge had made it clear that the matter was being handled as a vacation case and would resume on January 13. Uche noted that the defendants were produced from Kuje Prison in compliance with that schedule. He told the court that he had spoken with Adebayo Ojo, SAN, who said he had been newly engaged as counsel for the prosecution and that junior lawyers would attend on his behalf. When the court asked if any junior counsel were present, there was no response from the gallery. Justice Nwite, observing that the matter was fixed during vacation, ordered that the file be returned to the registry for reassignment by the Chief Judge. The charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, dated and filed December 30, 2025 by EFCC counsel Samuel Chime, alleges that Adamu, the Bauchi State Accountant-General Sirajo Jaja (said to be at large), Samaila Irmiya Liman (also at large) and the three other defendants conspired between January and May 2024 to provide 2,300,000.000 U.S. dollars in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him. The funds were said to have been released pursuant to approvals from Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State. According to the EFCC, the funds were intended to finance a terrorist or terrorist group, contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.The post Alleged terrorism financing: Judge returns Bauchi Finance commissioners case back to Chief Justice appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.