The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday indicted Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, along with three other defendants on charges of terrorism financing, conspiracy and conversion of about $9.7 million of public funds.
Adamu was arraigned before Justice Emeka Enwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja along with Balarabe Abdullahi Illah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed on ten charges relating to money laundering and terrorism financing.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, the defendants are charged with offenses 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, prosecution counsel Samuel Chaim informed the court that the case was set for arraignment and urged the court to read out the charges to the defendants.
“My Lord, we have a ten-count charge dated December 30, 2025 and filed the same day,” Chaim said.
A case alleges that Yakubu Adamu, while serving as Bauchi State Commissioner in 2024, received cash payments totaling $6.95 million outside the banking system, in violation of Nigeria's anti-money laundering laws.
Another case alleges a wider conspiracy involving Adamu and several others, including Bauchi State Accountant General Sirajjo Jaja and Samaila Ermia Liman, both of whom are currently at large.
According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly conspired to provide approximately $2.3 million in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and individuals associated with him between January and May 2024.
The EFCC alleges that because the funds were released pursuant to approval given by the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, the defendants had reasonable grounds to believe that the funds would be used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group.
When the charges were read in open court all four defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following his arguments, the prosecution requested a trial date so it could open its case. “We will ask for a date to be able to open our case,” Chaim told the court.
However, the defendants' counsel informed the court that the defense had filed separate bail pleas for each defendant.
“We filed separate petitions for bail in respect of the first, second, third and fourth defendants and all the petitions were filed on December 30, 2025,” the defense counsel said.
Responding, the prosecution confirmed that it has been served with the bail applications and has filed a joint counter affidavit opposing them.
“We have been served, and we have filed a joint counter affidavit yesterday, December 30, 2025, My Lord,” Chaim said.
Emeka Nwite (Justice) adjourned the case to January 5, 2026 to adjudicate on the bail applications. The court ordered that the defendants be held on remand at Kuze Correctional Center until their bail is determined.
The EFCC said the indictment underlines its ongoing efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing in line with Nigeria's financial crimes and national security laws.
