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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to grant bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three other defendants standing trial over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering offences.
Justice Emeka Nwite, on Monday, January 5, 2026, held that granting bail in a matter bordering on terrorism-related crimes could endanger public safety and undermine the interest of justice.
The other defendants are Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
The quartet was arraigned on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, on a ten-count charge bordering on terrorism financing and money laundering, contrary to Sections 2(1) and 19(1)(d) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
One of the counts alleges that Adamu, while serving as Commissioner for Finance of Bauchi State, received cash payments totalling $6.95 million in 2024, outside the banking system, an act prohibited under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
Another count alleges cash transactions of about $1.8 million, alongside efforts to disguise the origin of the funds, raising serious concerns about financial flows linked to terrorism-related activities.
At the bail hearing, defence counsel Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the defendants, arguing that the court had jurisdiction to grant bail and noting that the defendants are family men with responsibilities.
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However, opposing the application, prosecution counsel Chime Samuel told the court that the gravity of the charges, which include terrorism financing, unlawful cash transactions, and money laundering, justified continued detention.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution, stressing the wider implications of terrorism-related offences.
“I have taken cognizance of the fact that terrorism-related offences threaten social order, and that pre-trial release could endanger the public,” the judge said.
“The prosecution has raised a reasonable presumption of criminal responsibility on the part of the applicants.
“In the circumstances, the interest of justice will be best served by accelerated hearing rather than granting bail,” he said.
Consequently, the court refused the bail applications and ordered that the case be given accelerated hearing.
The matter was adjourned to Tuesday, January 13, 2026, for commencement of trial.
