ABUJA — Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered that the case involving Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, accused of involvement in terrorism financing, be remitted to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
The development comes nearly two weeks after Adamu was remanded to Kuje Prison.
Adamu, a former branch manager at Polaris Bank Plc in Bauchi, was arraigned on December 31, 2025, alongside three alleged accomplices—civil servants Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed—on a 10-count charge. The accusations include conspiracy, conversion of public funds, and alleged financing of terrorism, 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.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the court that between January and May 2024, the defendants conducted transactions totaling about $9.7 million without using financial institutions. The prosecution alleged that Adamu, in coordination with the Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Jaja, Samaila Irmiya Liman, and the other defendants—signatories to state accounts—handed $2.3 million in cash to Bello Bodejo and associates.
Bodejo, President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, had previously been arrested and charged with terrorism after forming a vigilante group in Nasarawa State. The federal government accused him of leading an ethnic militia and supporting activities prejudicial to national security. The EFCC claims that Bodejo received material support, assistance, and transport for acts connected to terrorism, contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The earlier charges against Bodejo were withdrawn in May 2024 before arraignment. However, in the current case, the EFCC alleges that the funds were illegally diverted for Bodejo’s use, with the approval of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. The prosecution stated that the defendants knew or had reasonable grounds to believe that the money would be used to finance terrorist activities. Some alleged accomplices, including Accountant-General Jaja, are reportedly at large.
The defendants pleaded not guilty and requested bail, which was denied by the court on January 5.
On Tuesday, Justice Nwite granted an application by the defendants’ counsel, Goddy Uche, SAN, seeking reassignment of the matter—which arose during the court’s vacation period—to another judge.
The 10-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025 and dated December 30, 2025, includes allegations that Adamu received $6,950,000 in cash outside financial institutions and conspired with his co-defendants to provide $2.3 million in cash to Bodejo and associates, with the knowledge that the funds could be used to finance terrorism.
