On Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission brought before court Bauchi State's Minister of Finance, Yakubu Adamu, along with three others, accused of allegedly funneling $9.7 million for terrorist activities.
The accused individuals — Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed — appeared in court on ten charges brought before Judge Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja, within the framework of case number FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025.
None of the four admitted guilt.
On December 30, legal actions were initiated, claiming that from January through May 2024, the accused individuals, along with those still at large, colluded to channel and conceal millions of dollars in financial support intended for the Bauchi State Government, supposedly benefiting Bello Bodejo and his allies, allegedly to fund a militant organization.
"Regarding you, Yakubu Adamu (serving as Commissioner for Finance, Bauchi State Government), at times during the year 2024, within the area covered by this Honorable Court, you received cash amounts totaling Six Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars (USD 6,950,000) without using a banking establishment, thereby committing an offense violating Sections 2(1) and 19(1)(d), which carries punishment outlined in Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022," states one of the allegations.
A separate accusation claims that the defendants colluded to supply approximately $2.3 million in cash to Bello Bodejo and others, reportedly with consent from Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, having "sufficient reason to suspect" that the money was intended to support a terror organization, violating Section 26(1) and subjecting them to penalties outlined in Section 21(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Adamu is also dealing with another set of six charges related to an alleged N4.6 billion money laundering operation connected to Polaris Bank Ltd. According to prosecutors, funds meant for supplying motorcycles to the Bauchi State Government were redirected without actual delivery taking place.
On Wednesday, Samuel Chime, legal representative of the EFCC, asked for a court date to call witnesses and submit evidence.
Defense attorney Gordy Uche (SAN) told the court that individual bail requests submitted on December 30 had been delivered to the prosecution.
"My Lord, please do not let the nature of the accusation overwhelm you. I request that the court approve bail under generous conditions," Uche stated, mentioning that Adamu's ongoing imprisonment has impacted wage disbursements for approximately 60,000 employees from Bauchi State.
Chime rejected the bail requests, highlighting the seriousness of the terrorist charges, the financial fraud accusations, and the large amounts at stake. He further mentioned Adamu's ongoing money laundering case before the same judicial body.
Judge Nwite postponed the case until January 5, 2026, to make a decision on the bond requests and directed that the accused remain detained at the Kuje Correctional Centre until further notice.
Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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