Alleged $9.7m Terrorism Financing: Court Denies Bail to Bauchi Finance Commissioner, Others

By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday declined a bail application filed by the Bauchi State Commissioner of Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and his co-defendants, who are standing trial over an alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing case.

Ruling on the application, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the offences with which the defendants are charged pose a grave threat to national security and public safety.

The judge said terrorism-related offences undermine social order and that granting bail at the pre-trial stage could endanger the public, stressing that such applications must be treated with utmost caution.

Justice Nwite, however, ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.

“I am not unmindful of the constitutional provision of Section 36(5), which provides that every person charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the judge said.

“But I must state that this provision is not absolute. In the consideration of an application for bail, all relevant factors must be taken into account.”

Citing the 2001 Supreme Court decision in Bamaiyi v. State, Justice Nwite noted that courts are entitled to consider the nature of the offence, the evidence in support of it, and the severity of the punishment upon conviction.

“These are critical factors relating to the likelihood of the accused making themselves available for trial, and they are not matters to be glossed over,” he said.

The judge added that Nigeria’s criminal justice system contains safeguards for the prosecution, the accused and the victim, and that bail may only be granted where there is good reason to believe the accused will not abscond or interfere with witnesses.

“I have carefully considered the affidavit evidence before the court at this time, as well as the proof of evidence, particularly the statement of Dan Lawan Abdulmumuni and other prosecution witnesses,” Justice Nwite said.

“I have also taken cognisance of the grave threat to national security and public safety posed by this case. Terrorism-related offences threaten social order, and pre-trial release could endanger the public.”

He held that the prosecution had succeeded in raising a reasonable presumption of criminal responsibility against the defendants.

“In view of the foregoing, I am of the humble view that the interest of justice will be best served by an accelerated hearing of this matter. Consequently, the application for bail is hereby refused,” the judge ruled.

Justice Nwite adjourned the case to January 13 for the commencement of trial.

Our correspondent reports that Adamu and his co-defendants were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre following their arraignment on a 10-count charge on December 31, 2025. The court had fixed Monday for the ruling on their bail applications.

Adamu, the first defendant, was arraigned alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, the second to fourth defendants respectively, all of whom are Bauchi State civil servants.

They pleaded not guilty to all the counts preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, was dated and filed on December 30, 2025, by EFCC counsel, Samuel Chime.

In count one, Adamu; Sirajo Jaja, the former Accountant-General of Bauchi State (now at large); Samaila Irmiya Liman (now at large); Ilelah; Bose; and Mohammed were alleged to have, between January and May 2024, conspired to provide funds amounting to $2.3 million in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals allegedly granted by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.

The funds were alleged to have been used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group, contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In count three, the defendants were accused of arranging for about $500,000 in cash to be delivered to Bello Bodejo and his associates for the purpose of terrorism and for the benefit of a proscribed terrorist group, also pursuant to alleged approvals granted by the governor. The offence is said to be contrary to Section 21(3)(b) and punishable under Section 21(4)(a) of the Act.

Count four alleged that the defendants conspired to disguise the origin of the $2.3 million, said to be Bauchi State Government funds, by routing it through Bureau de Change operators and other nominees and converting same to U.S. dollars for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and his associates, knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that the funds were proceeds of an unlawful act.

The offence is alleged to be contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In count eight, the defendants were accused of conspiring, sometime in 2024, to disguise the origin of about $6.95 million, allegedly for the benefit of Adamu, as proceeds of unlawful activity routed from Bauchi State Government funds through Bureau de Change operators. This offence is also said to be contrary to the Money Laundering Act, among other counts.

Alhaji Bello Bodejo is the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.

Separately, Adamu and a firm, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd, are also facing another money laundering charge involving N4.6 billion before Justice Nwite.

In that case, Adamu was granted bail in the sum of N500 million on Friday, with two sureties who must be property owners within Maitama, Asokoro or Gwarimpa.

In the six-count charge, Adamu was alleged to have committed the offence while serving as Branch Manager of Polaris Bank Ltd, Bauchi, between June and December 2023.

The defendants were accused of facilitating the conversion, concealment and use of about N4.65 billion 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 were allegedly never supplied.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.