Court remands Bauchi commissioner over alleged terrorism financing

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of the Commissioner of Finance, Bauchi State, Yakubu Adamu, who is accused of terrorism financing worth $9.7 million, alongside three others.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Adamu alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.

Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday ordered the remand of the defendants at the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial service in Kuje, FCT pending the hearing of the case on January 5.

After the plea of not guilty by the defendants, EFCC’s lawyer, Samuel Chime, sought a trial date to enable them present their witnesses and evidence in the case.

However, defence counsel, Gordy Uche, (SAN) requested the court to grant them bail, noting that the application was filed on December 30 and served on the prosecution.

He added that the commissioner’s continued detention has affected the salary payment of over 60,000 Bauchi State workers.

Chime, who acknowledged the receipt of the bail applications, said a joint counter affidavit had been filed to oppose the request.

When the judge asked if the facts in the motions were the same, the defence lawyer explained that all the facts were the same except the averment that defendants Ilelah, Bose and Mohammed were arrested after they voluntarily honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation.

The EFCC arraigned the defendants on a 10-count charge, Adamu was alleged to have between January and May 2024, while being Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Samaila Irmiya Liman, Balarabe Ilelah, Aminu Bose and Kabiru Mohammed, all being civil servants conspired to provide the sum of $2.3 million in for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals granted by Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

The offence is contrary to sections 26(1) and 21(3)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Adamu was also accused of money laundering worth N4.6 billion alongside Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd during his time as the branch manager of Polaris Bank Ltd, Bauchi, sometime between June 2023 to December 2023 for purported financing of the supply of motorcycles to Bauchi State Government through Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises.

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