A Nigerian federal court has returned for reassignment a high-profile terrorism financing case involving the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, after prosecutors failed to appear at a scheduled hearing.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja made the decision on Tuesday, ordering that the case file be forwarded to the Chief Judge following the end of the court’s vacation sitting.
Adamu, who previously served as a branch manager at Polaris Bank Plc, is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged involvement in terrorism financing and money laundering. He is the lead defendant in a 10-count charge alongside three Bauchi State civil servants — Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
All four defendants pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned on 31 December 2025. The court had earlier refused them bail on 5 January, with Justice Nwite ruling that the gravity of the allegations raised concerns for national security. The defendants were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while the court fixed 13 January for the start of trial and ordered an expedited hearing.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, however, no lawyer appeared on behalf of the EFCC. Defence counsel Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court that the defendants had been transported from custody in compliance with the adjournment and that the defence team was fully present.
Uche further told the court that he had encountered Adebayo Ojo, SAN, who disclosed that he had recently been appointed as lead counsel for the prosecution and that junior members of his team would represent the EFCC at the hearing. None of the prosecution’s lawyers ultimately appeared.
Citing the procedural status of the case as one handled during the court’s vacation, Justice Nwite ordered that the matter be returned to the registry for reassignment by the Chief Judge.
Court documents show that the EFCC filed the charge on 30 December 2025 under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025. Prosecutors allege that between January and May 2024, Adamu and other state officials conspired with two suspects currently at large to provide cash payments totalling 2.3 million dollars to Bello Bodejo and his associates. The funds were allegedly authorised by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and used to support terrorist activities.
The charges were brought under provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which prescribes severe penalties for terrorism financing offences.
