Court Adjourns Indefinitely Bauchi Finance Commissioner’s Terrorism-Financing Trial
A Federal High Court in Abuja on
Thursday adjourned indefinitely the trial of Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, who is facing allegations of terrorism financing and money laundering.
Justice Mohammed Umar announced the adjournment after informing the parties that the prosecution team, led by M.O. Adebayo, had formally written to the Chief Judge expressing reservations about the way the matter was being handled and requesting that the case be reassigned to another judge.
According to the court, no response has yet been received from the Chief Judge.
The development drew strong objections from defence counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), who said he was taken aback by the prosecution’s action.
He argued that any correspondence addressed to either the Chief Judge or the trial judge concerning the case should have been copied to the defence team to ensure transparency and fairness. Describing the move as unjust, Uche maintained that the failure to notify the defence undermined their right to participate fully in the proceedings.
Uche further applied for the temporary release of Adamu’s international passport, explaining that the commissioner is part of a high-level Bauchi State delegation coordinating preparations for the upcoming Hajj exercise.
In his remarks, Justice Umar clarified that the issue raised by the prosecution was administrative in nature rather than judicial. He noted that, given the pending request before the Chief Judge, it would be inappropriate for him to proceed with the hearing of the matter. He therefore directed counsel to await further directive on the reassignment.
The defence counsel indicated his intention to also petition the Chief Judge, protesting what he described as the prosecution’s failure to carry the defence along in its request. He warned that such actions could negatively impact the administration of justice.
While the prosecution urged the court to adjourn the case sine die pending its reassignment to another judge, the defence opposed an open-ended adjournment, arguing that the absence of a definite hearing date could effectively stall the case indefinitely. Despite the objection, Justice Umar adjourned the matter sine die, pending the Chief Judge’s decision.
Adamu and three co-defendants are standing trial in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The 10-count charge centres on alleged terrorism financing and money laundering.
The prosecution claims that between January and May 2024, the defendants conspired to divert millions of dollars belonging to the Bauchi State Government to individuals suspected of having links to terrorist groups. The alleged offences are said to contravene provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants were first arraigned on December 31, 2025 before Justice Emeka Nwite, who was sitting as a vacation judge, where they pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In January 2026, Adamu was granted bail in the sum of N500 million, with two sureties in like amount. The court stipulated that the sureties must own landed property in Abuja’s Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa districts, subject to verification by the court registry. They are also required to depose to affidavits of means before the case file is returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
