Alleged N4.6bn: Court orders EFCC to produce Bauchi commissioner

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, on December 30 for arraignment over alleged N4.6 billion money laundering.

Justice Emeka Nwite made the order on Wednesday following the failure of the EFCC failed, for the second time, to present Adamu for plea-taking.

Adamu and Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd are listed as first and second defendants, respectively, in a six-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025.

According to the charge filed on December 19 by the EFCC, Adamu, while acting as Branch Manager of Polaris Bank Ltd in Bauchi, allegedly conspired with Ishaku Mohammed Aliyu, Managing Director of Makayye Investment Resources Ltd and Muntaka Mohammed Duguri, both said to be at large, to launder about N4.65 billion between June and December 2023.

The EFCC said the offences were contrary to and punishable under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022

They were scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday, but the matter could not proceed due to the absence of both the prosecution and the defendants, despite defence lawyers being present in court.

Earlier, EFCC counsel, Samuel Chime, apologised for the previous day’s absence and sought an adjournment, explaining that the prosecution intended to amend the charge to include additional suspects.

While requesting the bail of the defendant, Uche pleaded with the court to stand the matter down to allow Adamu to be produced, stressing the wider implications of his continued detention with the non-payment of workers’ salary in the state.

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