Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the return of the case file involving the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment to a substantive judge.
The development was disclosed by the EFCC via its official X handle on Tuesday.
Justice Nwite gave the order on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, explaining that the matter was handled during the court’s vacation period and therefore required reassignment for proper and substantive hearing.
According to the judge, the case was a vacation matter which, upon the end of the court vacation, ought to be returned to the Chief Judge through the court registrar for reassignment to a substantive judge.
“I have listened to the submission of the learned senior counsel for the defendants. It is not in doubt that this is a vacation matter which was returned to the registrar after the vacation for onward return to the Chief Judge for reassigning the case substantively,” Justice Nwite said.
Yakubu Adamu was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
The defendants are facing a 10-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism financing, contrary to Sections 2(1) and 19(1)(d), and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
One of the charges allege that Adamu, while serving as Commissioner for Finance in Bauchi State, received cash payments totalling $6.95 million outside the financial system in 2024, an act the EFCC said contravenes the provisions of the law.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Earlier, on Monday, January 5, 2026, the court rejected the defendants’ bail applications and ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the commencement of trial.
Counsel to the defendants, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, had informed the court that the defence was ready for trial.
The EFCC, on its part, announced a change of counsel, with Adebayo Ojo taking over the prosecution of the case.
Alleged $9.7m Terrorism Financing: Bauchi Commissioner’s case sent for reassignment
