Court Orders Return of Bauchi Finance Commissioner’s Case for Reassignment

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered that the case involving Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment to a substantive judge.

The judge explained that the matter was a vacation case and could no longer be handled by him. He said, “This is a vacation matter which ought to be reassigned to a substantive judge to handle.”

Adamu is standing trial alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, following their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

The defendants face a 10-count charge of 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.

One count alleges that Adamu, as Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, received cash payments of $6.95 million outside the banking system in 2024, an offence the EFCC says violates the Act.

All defendants pleaded not guilty. On Monday, January 5, 2026, the court refused their bail applications and ordered they be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, defence counsel Chief Chris Uche (SAN) stated that they were ready to proceed with trial, while the EFCC introduced a change in its legal team, naming Adebayo Ojo as the new counsel handling the prosecution.

Justice Nwite said he had carefully considered the defence submissions and found no dispute over the status of the case. “It is not in doubt that this is a vacation matter which was returned to the registrar after the vacation for onward return to the Chief Judge for reassignment,” he noted.

The case file has now been forwarded to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another Federal High Court judge to continue proceedings.

Hafsoh Isiaq

Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.

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