EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Finance Commissioner, Three Others Over Alleged $9.7m Terrorism Financing, Money Laundering

Abuja, Nigeria– The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, alongside three others over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering involving about $9.7 million.

The defendants — Adamu, Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed — were brought before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

They were arraigned on a ten-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion of public funds and alleged terrorism financing, contrary to Sections 2(1) and 19(1)(d) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

EFCC prosecuting counsel, Samuel Chime, told the court that the matter was fixed for arraignment and requested that the charges be read to the defendants.

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

One of the counts alleged that **Yakubu Adamu, while serving as Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, received $6.95 million in cashin 2024 outside the banking system.

“That you Yakubu Adamu (being Commissioner for Finance, Bauchi state Government), sometimes 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) otherwise than through a financial institution, and you and offence contrary to Section 2(1) and Section 19(1) (d) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022” the charge read.

Another count accused Adamu and others — including Sirajo Jaja, the Bauchi State Accountant-General, and Samaila Irmiya Liman, both currently at large — of conspiring between January and May 2024 to provide about $2.3 million in cash allegedly linked to terrorism financing.

“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.”

According to the EFCC, the funds were allegedly provided for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, with reasonable grounds to believe the money would be used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group.

The charge further claimed that the alleged transactions were carried out pursuant to approvals granted by Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.

All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea, Chime requested a trial date, saying the prosecution was ready to open its case.

Counsel to the defendants, however, informed the court that separate bail applications had been filed on behalf of each defendant on December 30, 2025.

Responding, the EFCC prosecutor said the commission had been served with the bail motions and had already filed a joint counter-affidavit opposing the applications.

Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to January 5, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the court’s decision.