The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, arraigned the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, alongside three others before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering offences involving about $9.7 million.
The other defendants are Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed. They were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on a ten-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion of public funds and alleged terrorism financing, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Prosecution counsel, Mr. Samuel Chime, informed the court that the case was scheduled for arraignment and requested that the charges, dated December 30, 2025, be read to the defendants. Upon reading the charges, all the defendants pleaded not guilty.
One of the counts alleged that Adamu, while serving as Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance in 2024, received cash payments totalling $6.95 million outside a financial institution, an act said to be in violation of the Money Laundering Act.
Another count alleged that Adamu conspired with others, including the Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Jaja, and Samaila Irmiya Liman—both said to be at large—between January and May 2024 to provide cash funds amounting to about $2.3 million to Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him. The prosecution alleged that the funds were provided with reasonable grounds to believe they would be used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group, pursuant to approvals granted by the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
Following the defendants’ not guilty pleas, the prosecution applied for a trial date to open its case.
Counsel to the defendants informed the court that separate bail applications had been filed on behalf of each defendant on December 30, 2025. In response, the prosecution confirmed that it had been served and had filed a joint counter-affidavit opposing the bail applications.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to January 5, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
