The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, filed a fresh charge against Yakubu Adamu, Commissioner of Finance, Bauchi State, and others bordering on alleged terrorism financing to the tune of 9.7 million U.S dollars.
Adamu, alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, who are 2nd to 4th defendants respectively, will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday on 10 counts.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that though EFCC’s lawyer, Samuel Chime, had earlier prayed the court to allow Adamu and his co-defendants take their plea today when the sister case was heard, Justice Nwite fixed Wednesday for their arraignment.
The judge held that the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025 dated and filed Dec. 30 by Chime, was not in the court file.
In count one, Adamu, Sirajo Jaja (while being Accountant-General of Bauchi State, now at large}, Samaila Irmiya Liman (now at large}, Balarabe Ilelah, Aminu Bose and Kabiru Mohammed (all being civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government’s accounts and/or payment instruments) were alleged to have committed the offence sometime between Jan. 2024 and May 2024.
They were alleged to have conspired to provide funds in the aggregate sum of 2,300,000.000 U.S. dollars in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals granted by Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
The said funds were alleged to be used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group.
The offence is contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In count three, Adamu, Jaja (now at large), Liman (now at large), Ilelah, Bose, Mohammed (all being civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government’s accounts and/or payment instruments) were alleged to have, sometime between Jan. 2024 and May 2024, committed the offence.
They were accused of involving in an arrangement which resulted in the sum of about 500,000.00 U.S. dollars being delivered in cash to Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him for the purpose of terrorism and for the benefit of a proscribed terrorist group pursuant to approvals granted by Gov. Bala Mohammed.
The offence is contrary to Section 21(3)(b) and punishable under Section 21(4)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count four accused the defendants, including Jaja and Liman (who are at large) to have conspired to disguise the origin of the 2, 300, 000. 00 U.S. dollars, being Bauchi State Government’s funds, routed through Bureau de Change (BDC) operators and other nominees and converting same to U.S. dollars, for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him.
It said this was pursuant to approvals granted by Gov. Mohammed, having reasonable grounds to know that the said funds formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act.
The offence is contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In count eight, the defendants, including Jaja and Liman (who are at large), were alleged to have, sometime in the year 2024, conspired to disguise the origin of the sum of about 6, 950, 000. 00 US dollars for the benefit of Yakubu Adamu, the Finance Commissioner, being proceeds of unlawful activity routed from Bauchi State Government’s funds through the BDC operators.
The offence is contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, among other counts.
NAN reports that Bello Bodejo is the President, the Miyettti Allah Kautal Hore.
Justice Nwite, in the earlier charge which bordered on alleged N4.6 billion money laundering offences, had ordered the remand of Adamu in EFCC’s facility pending his arraignment alongside his co-defendants on Wednesday.
NAN
