The Commissioner of Finance in Bauchi State, said to be a former Branch Manager of Polaris Bank Plc (Bauchi branch), Yakubu Adamu, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on two separate charges of terror financing and money laundering.
Adamu was arraigned today along with three others on a 10-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in which they were accused of engaging in terrorism financing to the tune of $9.7million.
Those arraigned with Adamu today on the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, are Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, reports The Nation.
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which prosecuting lawyer, Samuel Chime sought for a date for the commencement of trial and applied that the defendants be remanded in prison.
Defence lawyer, Gordy Uche (SAN) informed the court about the bail applications filed by his clients and sought the court’s permission to move them.
Chime acknowledged being served with the bail applications and said he has also filed a joint response to them.
Justice Emeka Nwite then asked Uche is the facts in the four bail applications were the same, to which he (Uche) said there a slight difference.
Uche said while Adamu was arrested, the other three defendants reported to the EFCC upon being invited.
He then, proceeded to move the applications and argued that the prosecution’s proof of evidence did not specifically linked his clients with the offence of terrorism financing as alleged.
Uche prayed the court to appreciate the circumstances and exercise its discretion in favour of the defendants.
He told the court that Adamu’s continued detention has affected about 60, 0000 workers in Bauchi State, who were yet to be paid their salaries.
Uche added, “My lord, do not be carried away by the nature of the charge. I urge you to give it a liberal view and grant them bail on liberal terms.”
Responding, Chime urged the court to refuse the defendants’ bail request and drew the court’s attention to paragraphs 15 and 16 of the prosecution’s counter affidavit.
The prosecution, in paragraph 15 of the counter affidavit, said it firmly opposes the grant of bail to the defendants in view of the terrorism-related allegations, the money laundering counts and the magnitude of the sums stated on the face of the charge.
It claimed in paragraph 16 that Adamu is also facing another pending criminal charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025, bordering on money laundering.
Adamu and one other were arraigned on the said charge the previous day before the same court.
After listening to arguments on the bail applications, Justice Nwite adjourned till January 5, 2026 for ruling and ordered that th defendants be remanded in Kuje prison before until then.
In count one of the charge, Adamu, Sirajo Jaja (while being Accountant-General of Bauchi State, now at large}, Samaila Irmiya Liman (now at large}, Ilelah, Bose and Mohammed (said to be civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government’s accounts and/or payment instruments) were alleged to have committed the offence sometime between Jan. 2024 and May 2024.
They were alleged to have conspired to provide funds in the aggregate sum of 2,300,000.000 U.S. dollars in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals granted by Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
The said funds were alleged to be used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group.
In count three, the defendants were accused of involving in an arrangement which resulted in the sum of about 500,000.00 U.S. dollars being delivered in cash to Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him for the purpose of terrorism and for the benefit of a proscribed terrorist group pursuant to approvals granted by Gov. Bala Mohammed.
They were, in count four accused of conspiring to disguise the origin of the 2, 300, 000. 00 U.S. dollars, being Bauchi State Government’s funds, routed through Bureau de Change (BDC) operators and other nominees and converting same to U.S. dollars, for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him.
Earlier yesterday, Adamu and a firm, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd were arraigned before Justice Nwite on a six-count charge in which the EFCC accused them of laundering about N5billion.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them, following which Chime (who represented the prosecution) applied to the remand of the defendants in prison pending the commencement of trial.
Uche (who also represented the defendants) moved a bail application for his client, which was opposed by the prosecuting lawyer, following which the judge adjourned till January 2, 2026 for ruling and ordered that Adamu be remanded in EFCC’s custody.
In one of the counts in the charge, the EFCC alleged that Adamu, while acting as Branch Manager of Polaris Bank Plc, Bauchi, conspired with Ishaku Mohammed Aliyu, Managing Director of I.S. Makayye Investment Resources Limited, and Muntaka Mohammed Duguri, both currently at large, between June and December 2023, to launder ₦4.65billion.
The funds were allegedly availed by Polaris Bank under the guise of financing the supply of motorcycles to the Bauchi State Government through Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises, which motorcycles were never supplied.
In another count, Adamu is accused of acquiring, using, retaining and taking possession or control of ₦976million in 2023, paid into the account of I.S. Makayye Investment Resources Limited and subsequently transferred to several individuals and entities, knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity linked to the diversion of the Polaris Bank facility.
