An Abuja Federal High Court has refused bail to Bauchi finance commissioner Yakubu Adamu and three others over alleged terrorism financing of $9.7m.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined an application seeking the release on bail of the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three other defendants standing trial over alleged terrorism financing involving approximately $9.7 million.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, followed intense legal arguments from both the defence and the prosecution, with the court ultimately prioritising national security considerations over the personal liberty of the accused persons.
The decision underscores the judiciary’s increasingly firm posture on cases touching on terrorism financing and threats to public safety.
Adamu is standing trial alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
The four defendants were arraigned on December 31, 2025, on a 10-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The case is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025.
According to the EFCC, Adamu, who was previously a branch manager at Polaris Bank Plc in Bauchi, allegedly played a role in financial transactions that facilitated the movement of large sums of money intended for individuals linked to terrorist activities.
The prosecution maintains that the alleged acts amount to terrorism financing, an offence that directly undermines Nigeria’s internal security and public order.
At the arraignment, all four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN), subsequently urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the defendants were public officers with known addresses and posed no flight risk.
He further relied on the constitutional presumption of innocence, insisting that continued detention would amount to punishment before conviction.
However, the EFCC, represented by Samuel Chime, strongly opposed the bail application.
The prosecution argued that the seriousness of the allegations, the scale of the alleged terrorism financing, and the potential consequences for national security justified keeping the defendants in custody pending trial.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite acknowledged the constitutional guarantee that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Nonetheless, he stressed that such a provision is not absolute, particularly where the alleged offences threaten the safety of the public and the stability of the state.
The judge noted that terrorism-related crimes are distinct from ordinary financial offences because of their far-reaching consequences.
He observed that terrorism financing enables violent extremism and poses a direct risk to lives, institutions, and social cohesion. Granting bail in such circumstances, the court held, could expose the public to further danger.
Justice Nwite stated that he carefully examined the affidavit evidence and the proof of evidence placed before the court.
Particular attention was given to witness statements, including those attributed to Dan Lawan Abdulmumuni and other prosecution witnesses.
The court held that, at this stage of the proceedings, the EFCC had established a reasonable basis to justify continued detention.
“In matters of this nature, the court must strike a careful balance between individual rights and the collective interest of society,” the judge said.
He added that the alleged acts of terrorism financing threatened national security and social order, making bail inappropriate.
Rather than releasing the defendants, the court ordered an accelerated hearing to ensure that the case is determined promptly.
Justice Nwite ruled that fast-tracking the trial would better serve the interests of justice than granting pre-trial freedom.
The case was subsequently adjourned to January 13 for the commencement of trial.
Further details from the charge sheet reveal that in count one, the defendants allegedly conspired between January and May 2024 with others, including Sirajo Jaja, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, and Samaila Irmiya Liman, both said to be currently at large.
The group was accused of providing cash amounting to $2.3 million to Bello Bodejo and individuals associated with him.
The funds, according to the EFCC, were allegedly released following approvals purportedly granted by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and were used, in whole or in part, to support terrorist activities.
In count three, the defendants were accused of arranging the delivery of an additional $500,000 in cash to Bello Bodejo and his associates for the benefit of a proscribed terrorist group.
The prosecution alleged that the transaction was deliberately structured to avoid detection.
Meanwhile, count four centres on allegations that the defendants conspired to conceal the origin of the funds by routing Bauchi State government money through Bureau de Change operators and other intermediaries.
The EFCC alleged that the money was converted into U.S. dollars to obscure its source before being handed over to the intended beneficiaries.
The unfolding trial is expected to test the prosecution’s claims and further clarify the alleged role of public officials in the financing of terrorism.
Observers say the outcome could have significant implications for governance, accountability, and Nigeria’s broader fight against terrorism financing.
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