The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Yakubu Adamu, Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, alongside three other defendants, over allegations of terrorism financing, conspiracy and conversion of public funds amounting to about $9.7 million.
Adamu was docked before Emeka Nwite, Justice of the Federal High Court, Abuja, together with Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, on a ten-count charge bordering on money laundering and terrorism financing.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity, EFCC, the defendants are accused of offences contrary to Sections 2(1) and 19(1)(d) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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When the case was called, Samuel Chime, prosecution counsel informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and urged the court to have the charge read to the defendants.
“My lord, we have a ten-count charge dated December 30, 2025, and filed on the same day,” Chime said.
One of the counts alleges that Yakubu Adamu, while serving as Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, sometime in 2024, received cash payments totalling $6.95 million outside the banking system, in violation of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
Another count alleges a broader conspiracy involving Adamu and several others, including Sirajo Jaja, the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, and Samaila Irmiya Liman, both currently at large.
According to the charge, the defendants, between January and May 2024, allegedly conspired to provide about $2.3 million in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him.
The EFCC alleges that the funds were released pursuant to approvals granted by Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, with the defendants having reasonable grounds to believe that the monies would be used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group.
All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read in open court.
Following their pleas, the prosecution requested a trial date to enable it to open its case. “We will be asking for a date to enable us to open our case,” Chime told the court.
Counsel to the defendants, however, informed the court that the defence had filed separate bail applications for each of the defendants.
“We filed separate motions for bail in respect of the first, second, third and fourth defendants, and all the motions were filed on December 30, 2025,” defence counsel said.
Responding, the prosecution confirmed that it had been served with the bail applications and had filed a joint counter-affidavit opposing them.
“We have been served, and we filed a joint counter-affidavit yesterday, December 30, 2025, my lord,” Chime stated.
Emeka Nwite (Justice) adjourned the matter to January 5, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications. The court ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of their bail.
The EFCC said the arraignment underscores its ongoing efforts to clamp down on money laundering and terrorism financing in line with Nigeria’s financial crimes and national security laws.
