The Federal High Court in Abuja grants N100m bail to Bauchi Finance Commissioner Yakubu Adamu and three co-defendants over alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing offences
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three co-defendants in the sum of N100 million each over alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing offences.
Justice Mohammed Umar approved the bail applications on Wednesday, citing sufficient materials presented before the court to justify judicial discretion in favor of the defendants.
The judge directed each defendant to provide two sureties, both of whom must be permanent secretaries or directors in the civil service, and ordered them to surrender their international passports to the court registry.
Adamu and co-defendants Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed were also instructed to report to the Department of State Services’ office in Bauchi State every Monday until the conclusion of the trial.
The court adjourned the case until 26 February for commencement of trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the defendants on 10-count terrorism financing and money laundering charges, alleging that they conspired to provide $2.3 million to Bello Bodejo and associates between January and May 2024.
The funds were purportedly intended to finance a terrorist group, with approvals allegedly granted by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.
Defendants, represented by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, argued for bail on the grounds that Bello Bodejo had not been convicted of any terrorism offence and that no official proscription order had been issued against him or his organisation under the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2022.
Adamu, a former Polaris Bank manager, and his co-defendants initially had their bail requests denied by Justice Emeka Nwite in January, who remanded them to Kuje Correctional Centre, citing national security concerns.
