Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Yakubu Adamu, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, pending a ruling on his bail application over alleged money laundering offences.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Tuesday, December 30
after Adamu’s counsel, Chief Gordy Uche, SAN, moved a bail application on his
behalf, which was opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC). The court directed that Adamu be remanded while it considers the
application.
The order followed the arraignment of Adamu alongside Ayab
Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd on a six-count charge bordering on
alleged money laundering involving about N4.6 billion. The EFCC listed Adamu
and the company as the first and second defendants in the charge.
According to the prosecution, Adamu allegedly committed the
offences between June and December 2023 while serving as Branch Manager of
Polaris Bank in Bauchi. He was accused of conspiring with others, who are
currently at large, to facilitate the conversion, transfer, concealment and use
of funds provided by Polaris Bank under the pretext of financing the supply of
motorcycles to the Bauchi State Government. The prosecution alleged that the
motorcycles were never supplied.
The charge further accused Adamu and his alleged accomplices
of retaining and transferring proceeds of unlawful activities through nominees
and third-party accounts. Part of the funds was said to have been routed
through Makayye Investment Resources Ltd and Ayab Agro Products and Freight
Company Ltd, including a transfer of N165.9 million.
When the case was called, the EFCC informed the court that
it was ready to proceed with the arraignment. After the charges were read, the
defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts
The prosecution applied for a trial date, while the defence
informed the court of a pending bail application for Adamu, urging the court to
grant bail on liberal terms. The EFCC opposed the application, citing a counter
affidavit and asking the court to refuse bail and order an accelerated hearing.
Justice Nwite stated that a short date would be fixed for
the ruling on the bail application and ordered that Adamu be remanded at the
Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling. The court adjourned the matter to
January 2, 2026.
The EFCC also informed the court that additional defendants
had been identified and that a fresh charge had been filed, including Adamu.
However, the judge ruled that the charge was not yet before the court and
adjourned the arraignment to the following day.
The court later granted the prosecution’s request that Adamu
be temporarily remanded in the EFCC’s custody to ease logistics ahead of the
next court appearance.
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