Alleged $9.7m Fraud: Court Grants Bauchi Commissioner N100m Bail with Strict Conditions
ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has officially granted bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three other senior civil servants facing trial over an alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing scandal.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N100 million each, ending their weeks-long remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The judge’s decision marks a significant turn in the high-profile case, overturning a previous ruling by a vacation judge who had denied them bail on the grounds of “national security risks.”
Strict Conditions Attached
While granting the relief, Justice Umar imposed stringent conditions to ensure the defendants do not flee the country.
- Sureties: Each defendant must produce two sureties in like sum. The court specified that one surety must be a serving Permanent Secretary, while the other must be a Director in the Civil Service.
- Travel Ban: The judge ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports to the Court Registry immediately. They cannot travel abroad without express permission from the court.
- DSS Watch: Justice Umar directed Adamu and his co-accused to report to the Department of State Services (DSS) office in Bauchi State every Monday until the determination of the case.
“Insufficient Evidence of Risk”
Delivering the ruling, Justice Umar dismissed the Federal Government’s counter-affidavit, which argued that releasing the officials would jeopardize national security.
The judge held that the prosecution failed to provide “cogent and verifiable evidence” that the defendants are terrorists or that they would interfere with the trial. He emphasized that mere money donations or financial transactions, without proof of terrorist intent, should not override the constitutional presumption of innocence.
“The defendants have placed sufficient materials before the court to exercise discretion in their favor,” Justice Umar ruled.
The Charges
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Adamu alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering and terrorism financing.
The prosecution alleges that the officials converted public funds totaling $9.7 million and facilitated cash payments to individuals linked to ethnic militias, including Bello Bodejo, ostensibly for security purposes but allegedly in violation of anti-money laundering laws.
The court has adjourned the matter to February 26, 2026, for the commencement of the substantive trial.