By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, in the sum of N100 million in an alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing charge.
In a ruling on Wednesday, January 21, the trial judge, Mohammed Umar, admitted Adamu’s co-defendants, Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, who are listed as second to fourth defendants, respectively, to bail in the sum of N100 million each.
This comes days after Justice Emeka Nwite, the vacation judge before whom Adamu and his co-defendants were arraigned, refused their bail applications, noting that the offences with which the defendants are charged pose a grave threat to national security and public safety.
In the January 5 ruling, Justice Nwite said terrorism-related offences threaten social order and that granting pretrial release could endanger the public, noting that such considerations weighed against the grant of bail.
While ruling on the matter on Wednesday, Justice Umar held that the defendants had placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant the exercise of judicial discretion in their favour.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered each defendant to produce two sureties, who must be a permanent secretary and a director in the civil service.
The judge also directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registry.
In addition, the court ordered Adamu and the three other defendants to report every Monday to the Department of State Services (DSS) office in Bauchi State until the determination of the case.
The judge adjourned the matter to February 26 for the commencement of the trial.
Adamu, a former branch manager at Polaris Bank in Bauchi, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing and money laundering.
Adamu and his co-defendants were arraigned on December 31, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The EFCC said the defendants allegedly conspired to provide about $2.3 million in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah, and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals allegedly granted by the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed.
It said the funds were allegedly used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist group, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC also alleged that the defendants disguised the origin of Bauchi State government funds by routing them through Bureau de Change (BDC) operators and nominees before converting the funds to US dollars for unlawful purposes.
