The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three others bail in the sum of ₦100 million each over alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing and money laundering offences.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Tuesday, held that Adamu and his co-defendants placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant the exercise of judicial discretion in their favour.
The judge ordered each defendant to produce two sureties, who must be a permanent secretary and a director in the civil service. He also directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registry.
Justice Umar further ordered Adamu and the three co-defendants to report to the Department of State Services (DSS) office in Bauchi State every Monday until the determination of the case.
The matter was adjourned to February 26 for the commencement of trial.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 10-count charge of terrorism financing and money laundering against Adamu and three others, namely Balarabe Ilelah, Aminu Bose and Kabiru Mohammed, all described as senior Bauchi State civil servants.
The defendants were initially denied bail by Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as a vacation judge in December.
However, they were re-arraigned before Justice Umar on January 16 after the case was reassigned, and their bail application was subsequently argued.
Justice Umar had adjourned proceedings to January 21 for a ruling on the bail application after the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In arguing the renewed bail application, counsel to the defendants, Chris Uche (SAN), told the court that although a sister court had earlier refused bail, there were fresh and additional facts justifying the new application.
Defence Argues Fresh Facts
Uche argued that the earlier court would have granted bail if those new facts had been brought to its attention.
He further submitted that Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, was never convicted of any terrorism-related offence by any competent court.
According to him, although Bodejo was once charged by the Federal Government for terrorism-related offences, the charge was later withdrawn and dismissed by the court on May 29, 2024.
Uche also argued that there was no proscription order in the Federal Government’s official gazette designating either Bodejo or his organisation as a terrorist entity, relying on Section 48(1) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2022.
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He maintained that since Bodejo had not been legally declared a terrorist, there was no basis for the continued detention of the defendants, urging the court to grant them bail.
The senior lawyer further cited relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, to support the court’s power to grant bail.
Adamu, a former branch manager of a commercial bank in Bauchi State, and the other defendants were first arraigned on December 31, 2025, before Justice Nwite and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On January 5, Justice Nwite refused their bail application, ruling that the offences alleged posed a threat to national security and public safety.
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He ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed January 13 for trial.
However, on January 13, Justice Nwite returned the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment after the end of the court’s vacation.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
