A federal high court in Abuja has granted bail to Yakubu Adamu, Bauchi state commissioner for finance, standing trial over alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing offences.
In a ruling on Wednesday, Mohammed Umar, presiding judge, 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.
Umar 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.
The judge adjourned the matter to February 26 for the commencement of trial.
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.
He is standing trial alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
They were arraigned on December 31, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired to provide about $2.3 million in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah, and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals allegedly granted by Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi.
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.
On January 5, Emeka Nwite, the vacation judge before whom they were arraigned, refused their bail applications, ruling that the offences alleged posed a threat to national security and public safety.
On January 13, Nwite remitted the casefile back to the chief judge of the federal high court for reassignment.
The case was then assigned to Umar for continuation.
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