Terrorism financing: The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declined to grant bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, who are standing trial over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering offences.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered the ruling on Monday, January 5, 2026, ordered that the defendants remain in custody pending trial. The decision follows their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 31, 2025, on a ten-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion of public funds, money laundering, and alleged financing of terrorism.
The EFCC later confirmed the court’s decision via its official social media channels.
Terrorism Financing: Details of the Charges
According to court documents, the defendants are accused of offences contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
One of the charges alleges that Yakubu Adamu, while serving as Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, received cash payments totaling USD 6.95 million outside recognized financial institutions, an act said to violate Section 2(1) and Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering Act.
Another count accuses Adamu and other named officials—alongside persons currently at large—of conspiring between January and May 2024 to provide approximately USD 2.3 million in cash to Bello Bodejo and individuals allegedly linked to him, with reasonable grounds to believe the funds could be used to support terrorist activities.
The prosecution claims the transactions were carried out pursuant to approvals allegedly granted by the Bauchi State Executive. Terrorism financing.
At the arraignment, prosecution counsel Samuel Chime informed the court that the defendants had pleaded not guilty to all charges and requested a date to commence trial.
Defence counsel, however, urged the court to admit the defendants to bail, informing the court that separate bail applications had been filed on December 30, 2025.
Justice Nwite had earlier adjourned ruling on the bail applications while ordering the defendants to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
In his ruling on Monday, the judge refused the bail requests, citing the nature of the allegations and the need for the defendants to remain available for trial.
Next Steps
The matter is expected to proceed to full trial on a date to be fixed by the court. Terrorism financing.
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