Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Tuesday, returned the case file of the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, in the alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing, to the chief judge for reassignment.

Justice Nwite made the order remitting the case file back to the CJ for reassignment following the resumption of court activities after the vacation.

Mr Adamu, who is a former manager of a branch of Polaris Bank Plc in Bauchi State, is being prosecuted by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations bordering on terrorism financing and money laundering offences.

The commissioner, the 1st defendant, is standing trial alongside three others on a 10-count charge.

Other co-defendants include Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, who are 2nd to 4th defendants respectively.

They are said to be Bauchi State civil servants.

The defendants were arraigned on December 31, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the counts read to them.

The judge, on January 5, declined to grant their bail application on the grounds that the offences with which they are charged with, threatens national security and public safety.

Justice Nwite, who ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre until the determination of the case, fixed January 13 for commencement of trial.

He also made an order for accelerated hearing of the matter.

However, upon resumed hearing on Monday, no lawyer appeared for the EFCC.

The defendants’ counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court that on January 5, the judge indicated that the court was adjourning till today because it was sitting as a vacation court.

He said, “In obedience to the fixing of the case for today, the defendants have been produced from Kuje Prison and we, their lawyers, are also here for today’s proceedings.”

Uche told the court that he met a lawyer, Adebayo Ojo, SAN, in another court who informed him that he had been engaged as new counsel for the prosecution.

He said Ojo told him that his junior lawyers would be in court for Mr Adamu’s matter.

When the court inquired if any of the junior lawyers was in court, no body responded.

The judge, who noted that the case was a vacation matter, ordered that the file be returned to the registry for reassignment by the CJ.

The charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, was dated and filed Dec. 30 by EFCC’s lawyer, Samuel Chime.

In count one, Adamu, Sirajo Jaja (while being Accountant-General of Bauchi State, now at large}, Samaila Irmiya Liman (now at large}, Balarabe Ilelah, Aminu Bose and Kabiru Mohammed (all being civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government’s accounts and/or payment instruments) were alleged to have committed the offence sometime between January 2024 and May 2024.

They were alleged to have conspired to provide funds in the aggregate sum of 2,300,000.000 U.S. dollars in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals granted by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

The said funds were alleged to be used, in whole or in part, to finance a terrorist or terrorist group.

The offence is contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

(NAN)