Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, December 31, arraigned Yakubu Adamu, Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed before Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court.
EFCC
The defendants are facing a ten-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion of public funds, and alleged terrorism financing, contrary to Sections 2(1) and 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and related provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Prosecution counsel, Samuel Chime, informed the court that the matter was for arraignment and asked that the charge be read to the defendants, noting that the charge was dated and filed on 30 December 2025.
One count alleges that Yakubu Adamu, in his capacity as Commissioner for Finance, received cash payments amounting to USD 6.95 million in 2024 outside the banking system, an act said to contravene the money laundering law.
Another count alleges that Adamu, together with Sirajo Jaja (Accountant-General of Bauchi State, now at large), Samaila Irmiya Liman (now at large), and the other defendants, described as civil servants and signatories to state accounts, conspired between January and May 2024 to provide about USD 2.3 million in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and associates. Prosecutors allege the funds were released pursuant to approvals granted by Bala Mohammed, with reasonable grounds to believe the money would be used to finance a terrorist group.
All defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read. Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date, while defence counsel told the court that separate bail applications had been filed for each defendant on 30 December 2025.
Chime confirmed that the prosecution had been served with the bail motions and had filed a joint counter-affidavit.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to 5 January 2026 for ruling on the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the court’s decision.
