Just In: Court Refuses Bail for Bauchi Commissioner, Three Others Over Alleged Terrorism Financing

Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance Yakubu Adamu, Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed have all had their bail requests dismissed by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

It was understood that on Monday, January 5, 2026, the judge rendered the decision.

In a social media post, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) verified the refusal of bail.
Remember that on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them before Judge Emeka Nwite.

They were charged with ten counts of conspiracy, conversion of public funds, and accused financing of terrorism in violation of Sections 2(1) and 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which are punishable under Section 19(2)(b).

Samuel Chime, the prosecution’s attorney, told the court that the case was scheduled for arraignment and asked that the defendants be read the charge.

“We have a ten-count charge dated December 30, 2025, and filed on the same day,” Chime stated.

“That you, Yakubu Adamu (being Commissioner for Finance, Bauchi State Government), occasionally in the year 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did receive cash payments in the sum of Six Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars (USD 6,950,000) other than through a financial institution, and you committed an offence contrary to Section 2(1) and Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Another count reads; “That you Yakubu Adamu(being Commissioner for Finance, Bauchi State Government) Sirajo Jaja (being Accountant-General of Bauchi state now at large), Samaila Irmiya Liman(now at large), Balarabe Abdullahi Illelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed (all being civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government Accounts and/or payment instruments), sometimes between January 2024 and May 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire to provide funds in the aggregate sum of about Two Million, Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD 2,300,000) in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals granted by the executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed, having reasonable grounds to believe, that the said funds would be used, in whole or in part to finance a terrorist or terrorist group, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the terrorism(Prevention and Prohibition)Act, 2022.”

When the allegations were read to them, they entered a “not guilty” plea, which prompted prosecutor Samuel Chime to request a trial date from the court. Chime stated, “We will be requesting a date to enable us to open our case.”

In response, the defendant’s attorney informed the court that the defense had submitted separate bail requests on the defendant’s behalf.

“On December 30, 2025, we filed separate bail motions for the first, second, third, and fourth defendants.” He continued.

While remanding the accused at Kuje Correctional Center, Justice Nwite postponed making a decision on the bail application till today.