The Federal High Court in Abuja grants bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three other defendants over an alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing and money laundering case, setting bail at ₦100 million each.
According to Mediaplusng.com, Justice Mohammed Umar rules that the defendants place sufficient materials before the court to justify the exercise of judicial discretion in their favour, despite the serious nature of the allegations.
In his ruling, Justice Umar directs each defendant to produce two sureties who must be senior civil servants, specifically a permanent secretary and a director in the public service. The court also orders the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registry as part of the bail conditions.
Justice Umar further orders, as reported by Mediaplusng.com, that the Bauchi finance commissioner and his co-defendants report weekly to the Department of State Services (DSS) office in Bauchi State every Monday until the conclusion of the trial.
The judge subsequently adjourns the case to February 26 for the commencement of full trial proceedings, stressing the need for diligence and compliance with all court directives.
The defendants face a 10-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on alleged terrorism financing and money laundering. The EFCC lists the other accused persons as Balarabe Ilelah, Aminu Bose, and Kabiru Mohammed, all described as senior civil servants in Bauchi State.
The accused persons initially plead not guilty to all charges when they are first arraigned before the court. The prosecution alleges that the defendants are involved in financial transactions linked to terrorism-related activities, an allegation the defendants strongly deny.
Earlier, the defendants are denied bail by Justice Emeka Nwite, who sits as a vacation judge in December. Justice Nwite rules that the offences allegedly threaten national security and public safety, ordering the defendants to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
However, following the end of the court vacation, the case is reassigned, and the defendants are re-arraigned before Justice Umar on January 16. Their legal team promptly files a fresh bail application, citing new and additional facts not previously considered.
Leading defence counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, argues that the previous denial of bail would have been different if the new facts were presented earlier. He urges the court to take a fresh look at the application in the interest of justice.
Uche tells the court that Bello Bodejo, President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, who is mentioned during investigations, is not convicted of any terrorism offence by any competent court in Nigeria. He notes that charges earlier filed against Bodejo by the Federal Government are later withdrawn and dismissed by the court on May 29, 2024.
The defence further argues that there is no proscription order in the Federal Government Gazette declaring either Bodejo or his organisation a terrorist entity, relying on Section 48(1) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2022.
According to the defence, without any legal designation of terrorism against the alleged link, there is no justification for continued detention of the defendants, who are presumed innocent under the law.
The court also hears submissions referencing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which empower courts to grant bail, even in serious criminal matters, subject to strict conditions.
Justice Umar, after reviewing all submissions, grants the bail application, noting that the defendants have satisfied the legal requirements and that the court can adequately secure their attendance for trial through stringent conditions.
As the trial date approaches, the case continues to attract national attention, given its implications for public office holders, national security, and the enforcement of Nigeria’s anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering laws.
