TRIAL OF BAUCHI FINANCE COMMISSIONER PUT ON HOLD INDEFINITELY
Read Time:2 Minute, 4 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday indefinitely adjourned the terrorism-financing trial of Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu.
Justice Mohammed Umar announced the adjournment after noting that the prosecution, led by M.O. Adebayo, had written to the Chief Judge requesting a transfer of the case due to concerns over how it was being handled. The Chief Judge had yet to respond to the request.
Defence counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), expressed surprise, arguing that any communication with the Chief Judge should have been shared with the defence for input. He described the situation as “unfair,” saying the defence’s rights were undermined by not being copied on the letter.
Uche also requested that Adamu’s passport be released to allow him to travel as part of a delegation overseeing Bauchi State’s Hajj preparations.
Justice Umar explained that the matter was administrative rather than judicial and therefore could not continue until the Chief Judge made a decision. He advised counsel to schedule a future date. Uche said he would also write to the Chief Judge to protest the lack of notification, noting that such actions “will not do the administration of justice any good.”
While the prosecution sought a sine die adjournment pending reassignment, the defence opposed it, warning that the case could “die” without a set date. Justice Umar ultimately adjourned the matter sine die, awaiting the Chief Judge’s directive.
READ MORE:
JIHADIST ATTACKS CLAIM 25 LIVES IN NORTHEAST NIGERIA – REPORT
Adamu and three others face a 10-count charge of terrorism financing and money laundering in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The prosecution alleges that between January and May 2024, the defendants conspired to divert millions of dollars from Bauchi State Government funds to individuals linked to terrorist groups.
The charges fall under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants were first arraigned on December 31, 2025, before Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as a vacation judge, and pleaded not guilty. Adamu was granted bail in January 2026 with N500 million and two sureties of equal value. The sureties were required to own property in Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa districts of Abuja, verified by the court registry, and to depose to an affidavit of means before the file was returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0