Bauchi Finance Commissioner Arraigned On Terrorism Financing, Money Laundering Charges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, along with three others, before a Federal High Court in Abuja on fresh terrorism financing and related financial crime charges.

Adamu, joined by Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, on a 10-count charge alleging conspiracy, unlawful cash transactions, conversion of public funds, and terrorism financing contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. ?
The Star
According to the EFCC’s charge, the defendants are accused of receiving nearly $6.95 million in cash outside the banking system in 2024 and, in a separate count, conspiring between January and May 2024 to provide approximately $2.3 million in cash to Bello Bodejo and associates — funds the commission alleges were approved by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and believed to have been used, wholly or partly, to finance terrorist activities.

All four defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read in court. The prosecution requested a trial date to present evidence, while defence counsel informed the court that bail applications had been filed on behalf of each defendant.

Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until January 5, 2026, for a ruling on the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending that decision.

The EFCC has said the arraignment is part of its intensified efforts to tackle financial crimes and terrorism financing in line with Nigeria’s laws.