The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, arraigned the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, alongside three others before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 10-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion of public funds and alleged terrorism financing.
The other defendants are Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
According to the EFCC, the offences contravene Sections 2(1) and 19(1)(d) and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, Samuel Chime, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and prayed that the charges be read to the defendants.
He disclosed that the 10-count charge was dated and filed on December 30, 2025.
One of the counts alleged that Adamu, in 2024, received cash payments totalling 6,950,000 United States dollars outside a financial institution, contrary to money laundering laws.
Another count accused Adamu, along with the Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Jaja (now at large), and others, of conspiring between January and May 2024 to provide about 2.3 million dollars in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and associates, allegedly for terrorism financing, purportedly based on approvals granted by the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following their plea, Chime requested a date for trial to enable the EFCC to open its case.
Defence counsel informed the court that separate bail applications had been filed for all four defendants on December 30, 2025.
The prosecution confirmed receipt of the applications and told the court it had filed a joint counter-affidavit in opposition.
Justice Nwite adjourned ruling on the bail applications to January 5, 2026, and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling.
