The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh charge against the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three others over an alleged terrorism financing case involving about 9.7 million United States dollars.
The charge was filed on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Emeka Nwite. The case has drawn national attention because it involves senior government officials and serious allegations linked to terrorism financing.
Apart from Adamu, the other defendants are Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed. They are listed as the second to fourth defendants in the case. According to the EFCC, all the accused persons are civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government accounts or payment instruments.
The EFCC said the defendants will face a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy and terrorism financing. The charge is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025 and was dated and filed on December 30 by the EFCC’s lawyer, Samuel Chime.
Reports from the court show that during proceedings on a related case, EFCC lawyer Chime asked the court to allow Adamu and the other defendants to take their plea immediately. However, Justice Emeka Nwite declined the request and fixed Wednesday for the arraignment.
The judge explained that the fresh charge was not yet in the court file at the time of the hearing. He said proper court procedure must be followed before the defendants can be arraigned.
In the first count of the charge, the EFCC alleged that Yakubu Adamu, along with Sirajo Jaja, who was the Accountant-General of Bauchi State and is now said to be at large, and Samaila Irmiya Liman, also said to be at large, committed the offence between January 2024 and May 2024.
Others named in the count include Balarabe Ilelah, Aminu Bose, and Kabiru Mohammed. According to the EFCC, all the accused persons were civil servants and authorized signatories to Bauchi State Government accounts during the period in question.
The commission alleged that the defendants conspired to provide funds amounting to 2.3 million US dollars in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons linked to him. The EFCC claimed that the approvals for the release of the funds were granted by the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed.
According to the charge, the funds were allegedly used, either in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group. The EFCC did not, however, give full details in the charge on how the funds were allegedly transferred or how they were eventually used.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. It is also punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the same Act.
The Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, is one of Nigeria’s key laws aimed at stopping terrorism and cutting off funding to terrorist groups. The law gives security and anti-graft agencies wide powers to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals or organizations suspected of supporting terrorism financially or otherwise.
Terrorism financing has been a major concern for Nigerian authorities, especially with the activities of armed groups and insurgents in different parts of the country. Over the years, the federal government has worked with local and international partners to track and stop the flow of funds to such groups.
The EFCC, as Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption agency, has been involved in several high-profile cases related to money laundering, fraud, and terrorism financing. The commission has repeatedly said that public funds must not be used to support criminal or violent activities.
This latest charge against the Bauchi State Finance Commissioner comes at a time when the EFCC has increased its focus on public officials and government institutions. The commission has maintained that no one is above the law, regardless of position or status.
Bauchi State, like many states in the northern part of Nigeria, has faced security challenges in recent years. These include banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities. The government has often pledged its support for security agencies and efforts to restore peace.
The involvement of top state officials in such serious allegations has raised concerns among citizens and civil society groups. Many Nigerians are closely watching the case to see how it will be handled by the courts.
The EFCC will then be required to present evidence and call witnesses to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The defendants, on their part, will have the opportunity to defend themselves against the allegations.
So far, the Bauchi State Government has not issued an official statement on the fresh charge. It is also not clear whether the defendants have engaged legal counsel or what their response to the allegations will be.
The EFCC has urged the public to allow the legal process to take its course. The commission also reminded Nigerians that the accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
