Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday granted N100 million bail to the embattled Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, who is standing trial over alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing.
In a ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar admitted Adamu and his co-defendants to bail in the sum of N100 million each.
The judge held that the defendants had placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant the exercise of judicial discretion in their favour.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered each defendant to produce two sureties who must be a permanent secretary and a director in the civil service.
The judge also directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registry.
In addition, the court ordered Adamu and the three other defendants to report every Monday to the Department of State Services, DSS, office in Bauchi State until the determination of the case.
Justice Umar thereafter adjourned the matter to February 26 for commencement of trial.
Adamu, a former branch manager at Polaris Bank in Bauchi, is facing trial on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing and money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The commissioner is standing trial alongside three others — Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
On their arraignment on December 31, 2025, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired to provide about $2.3 million in cash to the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals allegedly granted by Governor Bala Mohammed.
The anti-graft agency 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 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.
On January 5, Justice Emeka Nwite, the vacation judge before whom they were arraigned, refused their bail applications, ruling that the offences posed a threat to national security and public safety.
On January 13, Justice Nwite remitted the casefile back to the chief judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.
The case was then assigned to Justice Umar for continuation.
