A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of Bauchi State's Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, in connection with alleged money laundering offences involving a staggering sum of approximately N4.6 billion.
Court Orders Remand Pending Bail Ruling
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the remand order on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, following the arraignment of the commissioner. The order came after Adamu's counsel, Chief Gordy Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), presented a bail application on his client's behalf. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting the case, strongly opposed the bail request.
The judge directed that Yakubu Adamu be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre while the court considers the arguments for and against granting him bail. The court has adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for the ruling on the bail application.
Details of the Six-Count Charge
The EFCC arraigned Adamu alongside a company, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd, on a six-count charge. The charges border on conspiracy, money laundering, and retention of proceeds of unlawful activities.
According to the prosecution, the alleged crimes were committed between June and December 2023, during Adamu's tenure as the Branch Manager of Polaris Bank in Bauchi. The EFCC alleges that Adamu conspired with others, who are currently at large, to facilitate the illegal movement of funds.
The funds in question were reportedly provided by Polaris Bank under the pretext of financing the supply of motorcycles to the Bauchi State Government. The prosecution, however, contends that the motorcycles were never supplied.
Alleged Flow of Illicit Funds
The charge sheet details how Adamu and his alleged accomplices are accused of retaining and transferring the proceeds of their unlawful activities through nominees and third-party accounts. Part of the funds was allegedly routed through Makayye Investment Resources Ltd and the co-defendant, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd.
A specific transaction highlighted involves a transfer of N165.9 million. When the charges were read in court, both Yakubu Adamu and the company pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Prosecution Seeks Accelerated Hearing
Following the not-guilty plea, the EFCC's prosecution team applied for a trial date. The defence counsel urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms. The anti-graft agency opposed this, filing a counter-affidavit and asking the court to refuse bail and instead order an accelerated hearing of the substantive case.
In a logistical move, the court later granted the prosecution's request for Adamu to be temporarily remanded in EFCC custody to facilitate his transportation for the next court appearance. The EFCC also informed the court that it has identified additional defendants and filed a fresh charge, which includes Adamu, though the judge noted that charge was not yet formally before the court.
