The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday adjourned indefinitely the trial of the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, who is standing trial over alleged terrorism financing.
The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, adjourned the matter after informing the court that the prosecution team, led by M.O. Adebayo, had written to the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, expressing discomfort with the handling of the matter and requesting that the case be transferred.
The judge said the Chief Judge was yet to respond to the letter written by the prosecution.
Defence counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), expressed shock at the development, arguing that any communication to the Chief Judge or presiding judge ought to have been copied to the defence for input. He described the development as “unfair”, adding that the right of the defence had been taken away by the failure of the prosecution to serve them with a copy of the letter.
The senior lawyer also urged the court to release the passport of the first defendant to enable him to travel, stating that Adamu was part of a high-powered delegation overseeing Hajj preparations in the state.
In response, Justice Umar noted that the issue was administrative rather than judicial and added that he was not expected to continue hearing the matter in view of the letter to the Chief Judge. The judge subsequently urged counsel to take a date.
Uche told the court that he would also write to the Chief Judge to protest the prosecution’s failure to notify the defence of their letter, arguing that such moves “will not do the administration of justice any good”.
While the prosecution asked that the matter be adjourned sine die pending reassignment to another judge, the defence objected, contending that without a definite date the case would “die”.
Justice Umar, however, adjourned the matter sine die pending the decision of the Chief Judge.
Adamu, who is a former manager of a branch of Polaris Bank Plc in Bauchi State, and others were earlier arraigned on 31 December 2025 and pleaded not guilty to the counts read to them before Justice Emeka Nwite.
The judge had, on 5 January, declined to grant their bail application on the grounds that the offences with which they are charged threaten national security and public safety.
Justice Nwite, who ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre until the determination of the case, fixed 13 January for the commencement of trial.
However, on 13 January, Justice Nwite returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment after the court vacation had ended.
In count one of the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, Adamu, Sirajo Jaja (while serving as Accountant-General of Bauchi State, now at large), Samaila Irmiya Liman (now at large), Balarabe Ilelah, Aminu Bose and Kabiru Mohammed (all civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government accounts and/or payment instruments) were alleged to have committed the offence sometime between January 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 Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
The said funds were alleged to have been 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.
Meanwhile, Adamu and his co-defendants have been admitted to bail by Justice Umar, who held that they had placed sufficient materials before the court for it to exercise its discretion in their favour judicially and judiciously.
While granting the bail applications, the judge directed the defendants to produce two sureties each, who must be a permanent secretary and a director in the civil service.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the registry of the court. It also ordered Adamu and three co-defendants to report to the office of the Department of State Services in Bauchi State every Monday until the case is determined, and adjourned the matter until 26 February for the commencement of trial.