By Suleiman Anyalewechi
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, finally granted bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three others involved in a case of alleged terrorism financing.
The Source reports that Adamu, Bello Bodejo the leader of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, and two others are facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC, over multiple count charges bordering on money laundering and terrorism financing to the tune of $9.7 million.
The defendants had, about three weeks ago, been denied bail by the Hon Justice Emeka Nwite, who agreed with the argument of the prosecution counsel that granting the accused bail could negatively affect the prosecution of the matter.
Justice Nwite also held that the charges against the defendants are such that have serious implications for the national security.
“I am not unmindful of the constitutional provisions of Section 36 (5) which provides that every person who is charged with criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until he is proven guilty.
“In considering the application for bail, all factors must be considered. The court has the responsibility to weigh the nature of the offence, the proof of evidence adduced and the severity of the punishment if the defendants are convicted” Justice Nwite argued.
He subsequently aligned himself with the fears expressed by the prosecution counsel to the effect that the defendants may not make themselves available for trial if granted bail.
In rejecting the bail application, Justice Nwite held that the interest of justice will be better served, not by granting bail to the defendants, but by giving the matter an accelerated hearing.
But in a curious twist of events, Justice Nwite last week handed over the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment, triggering, in the process, widespread speculations as to the possibile motives behind the action.
Ruling on a fresh bail application, the new Judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, granted each of the four defendants bail in the sum of N100 million.
The court also ruled that each of the defendants must produce two sureties in like sum, while one of the sureties must be a serving Permanent Secretary and the second of not lower than the rank of a Director in the Civil Service.
The accused in addition, are to deposit their international passports and other travel documents with the court’s Registrar, and are not to travel outside the country without the express permission of the court.
They are also to be reporting to the Bauchi State command of the Department of State Service, DSS, every Monday.
Further proceedings have been adjourned till March to March 26, 2026.
It will be recalled that Adamu and others had earlier been granted bail in another case involving alleged N5.7 billion money laundering and contract splitting by Justice Nwite.
The Trials have since provoked deep-seated disagreement between the Presidency and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammad who has alleged intimidation, harassment and orchestrated smear campaign against him owing to his refusal to defect to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
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