The Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja has refused to grant bail to Yakubu Adamu, Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, and three different defendants standing trial over alleged terrorism financing and cash laundering offences.
Emeka Nwite (Justice) delivered the ruling on Monday, rejecting separate bail functions filed by the defendants and ordering an accelerated listening to of the case.
The opposite defendants are Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
They have been arraigned by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, on a ten-count cost bordering on alleged terrorism financing and associated cash laundering offences.
Learn additionally: EFCC arraigns Bauchi commissioner, three others over alleged $9.7m terrorism financing
In line with an announcement by Dele Oyewale, Spokesman for the Fee on Monday, the fees are introduced underneath Sections 2(1) and 19(1)(d), and punishable underneath Part 19(2)(b) of the Cash Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
One of many counts alleges that Yakubu Adamu, in his capability as Commissioner for Finance of the Bauchi State Authorities, obtained money funds totalling six million, 9 hundred and fifty thousand United States {dollars} (USD 6,950,000) someday in 2024, in any other case than via a monetary establishment, inside the jurisdiction of the court docket.
The prosecution additional alleged that the defendants have been concerned in different suspicious money transactions, together with funds of about a million, eight hundred thousand United States {dollars} ($1,800,000), outdoors the banking system, in addition to actions aimed toward disguising the origin of the funds.
On the bail listening to, Chris Uche,, counsel to the defendants, urged the court docket to grant bail, arguing that the court docket had the jurisdiction to take action. He submitted that the defendants are accountable household males with kids and posed no flight threat.
Nevertheless, Chime Samuel, prosecution counsel, instructed the court docket that the defendants have been dealing with severe terrorism-related and cash laundering expenses.
He argued that granting bail may undermine public security and the administration of justice, given the gravity of the allegations and the character of the offences.
In his ruling, Nwite held that the offences alleged posed a severe risk to public order and nationwide safety.
He stated the court docket had rigorously thought of the arguments of each events and the character of the fees earlier than arriving at its choice.
“I’ve additionally taken cognisance that terrorism-related offences threaten social order and that pre-trial launch may endanger the general public,” the choose stated.
He added that the prosecution had raised an affordable presumption of legal duty towards the defendants at this stage of the proceedings.
“For my part, the prosecution has succeeded in elevating an affordable presumption of legal duty on the a part of the candidates.
“In view of the foregoing, I’m of the standard view, and I so maintain, that the curiosity of justice will probably be met by giving this matter an accelerated listening to. Consequently, the appliance is refused,” Nwite dominated.
The court docket thereafter adjourned the matter to Tuesday, January 13, 2026, for the graduation of listening to.
