A Federal High Court in Abuja has returned the case file of Yakubu Adamu, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Emeka Nwite, who served as the vacation judge during the yuletide, made the order on Tuesday following the resumption of regular court activities.
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. He is standing trial alongside three others—Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
The defendants were arraigned on December 31, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to all charges. On January 5, Justice Nwite declined their bail applications, ruling that the alleged offences posed a threat to national security and public safety.
The judge consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed January 13, 2026, for the commencement of trial, directing that the matter be given accelerated hearing.
However, when the case was called on Monday after the court resumed from the vacation, no counsel appeared for the prosecution.
Counsel to the defendants, Chris Uche, informed the court that he had encountered Adebayo Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in another courtroom, who told him he had been engaged as new counsel for the EFCC and that his junior lawyers would handle the case.
When the court inquired whether any of the junior counsel was present, there was no response.
Noting that the matter had been handled as a vacation case, Justice Nwite ordered that the case file be returned to the court registry for reassignment by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
According to the EFCC, 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 Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
The commission alleged that the funds were used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist group, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendants disguised the origin of Bauchi State government funds by routing them through bureau de change operators and nominees before converting the funds into US dollars for unlawful purposes.
In a separate case, Adamu is also standing trial alongside Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd over an alleged N4.6 billion money laundering charge. The EFCC said the transactions occurred while Adamu served as a branch manager at Polaris Bank in Bauchi.
In that matter, Adamu was granted bail in the sum of N500 million.
