EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Finance Commissioner, Three Others Over Alleged $9.7m Terror Funding Scheme
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has formally commenced prosecution of the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, alongside three other officials, over alleged involvement in the illegal handling of about $9.7 million and the suspected financing of terrorist activities.
The defendants – Adamu, Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed – were on Wednesday arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the anti-graft agency, the accused are facing a 10-count charge which includes conspiracy, unlawful cash transactions, diversion of public funds and providing financial support to persons believed to be linked to terrorism. The alleged offences are said to violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Leading the prosecution, Samuel Chime told the court that the charges were filed on December 30, 2025, and requested that they be read to the defendants for the purpose of arraignment.
One of the charges accuses the Bauchi finance commissioner of collecting cash payments amounting to $6.95 million in 2024 outside approved banking channels, an act the EFCC said contravenes the law on money laundering.
Another count alleges that between January and May 2024, Adamu conspired with other officials, including the state’s Accountant-General and two others who are currently at large, to release about $2.3 million in cash to Bello Bodejo and individuals linked to him, despite having reason to believe that the funds could be used to support terrorist activities. The EFCC said the payments were made based on approvals allegedly granted by the Bauchi State Governor.
When the charges were read in court, all four defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their pleas, the prosecution applied for a trial date to enable it open its case. Defence lawyers, however, informed the court that bail applications had already been filed on behalf of the accused persons on December 30.
Chime confirmed receipt of the bail applications and told the court that the EFCC had responded with a joint counter-affidavit opposing the requests.
After listening to both sides, Justice Nwite fixed January 5, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the court’s decision.
