According to The Guardian, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has refused bail to Yakubu Adamu, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, and three others facing charges of terrorism financing and money laundering. The court’s decision follows an arraignment on a 10-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC has dismissed claims by Governor Bala Mohammed that the trial is a political witch-hunt. Wilson Uwujaren, the commission’s Director of Public Affairs, stated that the agency operates independently and is not acting on political instructions, despite the governor’s allegations that he is being targeted for refusing to defect to the ruling party. The case was also covered by Premium Times and Daily Post. Premium Times detailed that the ‘defendants were arraigned on Wednesday, December 31, 2025,’ while Daily Post reported that the court has ‘adjourned the case till January 6’ for further hearing on the substantive matter.
Echotitbits take: This case is a high-stakes legal battle that tests the independence of the EFCC. If the prosecution proves terrorism financing, it could have massive political ramifications for the Bauchi state government. Watch for the evidence presented in the next hearing to see if the ‘political harassment’ narrative holds weight.
Source: ThePunch – https://punchng.com/terror-financing-court-denies-bauchi-commissioner-bail-cites-national-security/ January 6 2026
Photo Credit: ThePunch
