Federal High Court in Abuja has denied bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner of Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three co-defendants over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering offences brought against them by the EFCC

A Federal High Court in Abuja has denied bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner of Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three co-defendants over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering offences brought against them by the EFCC.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday denied bail to the Commissioner of Finance in Bauchi State, Yakubu Adamu, and three others arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The ruling followed arguments for and against separate bail applications filed by the defendants in the terrorism financing and money laundering case.

The EFCC had arraigned Adamu alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

They are facing a ten-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion of public funds, money laundering, and alleged terrorism financing.

According to the prosecution, the charges contravene Sections 2(1) and 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

One of the counts alleges that Yakubu Adamu, while serving as Commissioner for Finance in Bauchi State, received cash payments totaling $6.95 million outside approved financial institutions in 2024.

Another charge accuses Adamu and other civil servants along with officials currently at large of conspiring between January and May 2024 to provide $2.3 million in cash to Bello Bodejo and associates, allegedly knowing the funds could be used to finance terrorist activities.

The prosecution claimed the transactions were carried out with approvals from Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read in court.

Following their plea, EFCC counsel, Samuel Chime, requested a trial date to enable the prosecution to open its case.

Defence lawyers, however, urged the court to grant bail to their clients, a request opposed by the prosecution through a joint counter-affidavit.

After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Nwite ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling on their bail applications.

The case was adjourned to January 5, 2026, for continuation of proceedings.

The development comes days after the EFCC also arraigned Adamu in a separate case involving alleged money laundering of ₦5.79 billion, alongside Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Limited.

That case involves a six-count charge under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.