The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, pending judgment on his bail plea.
Justice Emeka Enwite issued the order on Tuesday after SAN Chief Gordie Uche, representing Adamu and Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Limited, filed a bail application which was opposed by EFCC counsel Samuel Chime.
The remand comes soon after Adamu and Ayab Agro Products were arraigned on a six-count charge of alleged money laundering involving N4.6 billion.
Adamu and the company have been named as first and second defendants in the case filed by the EFCC on December 19 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025.
According to the allegations, Adamu, who served as the branch manager of Polaris Bank Limited in Bauchi, allegedly conspired with the Managing Director of Makaye Investment Resources Limited, Ishaku Aliyu, and Muntaka Mohammed Duguri, currently at large, to transfer the funds between June and December 2023.
A sum of about N4.65 billion was reportedly provided by Polaris Bank through Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises to the Bauchi State Government to finance the supply of motorcycles. The motorcycles were reportedly never delivered.
The defendants in the further cases are accused of transferring part of the funds, including N165.9 million to Ayab Agro Products, to third parties in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
When the case was called, the defendants pleaded not guilty on all six counts. Chime requested a trial date, while Uche noted that a bail petition had been filed for Adamu, urging the court to grant bail on generous terms.
The EFCC opposed the application citing a 15-paragraph counter affidavit filed on December 22 and requested for speedy hearing.
Justice Enyite, however, ordered Adamu to be remanded at Kuje Correctional Center pending a decision on his bail plea.
The court adjourned the case to January 2, 2026 for judgment.
During the proceedings, the EFCC informed the court that additional defendants, including Adamu, had been identified and charged, but the hearing on the new charges was adjourned to a later date.
The judge also granted the EFCC's request to keep Adamu in its custody pending arraignment to avoid logistical challenges in transporting the defendants to court.
