By Uche Onyeali
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has returned the case file of the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, to the chief judge of the court for reassignment.
Justice Nwite, who was the vacation judge during the yuletide, made the order yesterday, following the resumption of court activities after the vacation.
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.
The commissioner is standing trial alongside three others, Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges upon their arraignment before the court on December 31, 2025.
On January 5, Justice Nwite refused their bail applications, ruling that the offences allegedly pose a threat to national security and public safety.
He ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed January 13 for the commencement of trial, with a directive for accelerated hearing.
However, when the case was called on Monday after the court resumed, no lawyer appeared for the prosecution.
Chris Uche (SAN), who appeared for the defendants, told the court that he met Adebayo Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, in another courtroom, who informed him that he had been engaged as the new counsel for the EFCC and that his junior lawyers would handle the matter.
When the court asked if any of the junior counsels was present, there was no response.
The judge, after noting that the case had been treated as a vacation matter, ordered that the file be returned to the 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 cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo, President of Miyetti Allah, and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals allegedly granted by Governor Bala Mohammed.
The commission said the funds were allegedly used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist group, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC also 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 to US dollars for unlawful purposes.
Separately, Adamu is standing trial alongside Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd over an alleged N4.6 billion money laundering case, which the EFCC said relates to transactions carried out while he served as a branch manager of Polaris Bank in Bauchi.
In that charge, he was granted bail in the sum of N500 million.
