The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Yakubu Adamu, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, pending a ruling on his bail application over alleged money laundering offences.

 

 

 

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Tuesday, December 30 after Adamu’s counsel, Chief Gordy Uche, SAN, moved a bail application on his behalf, which was opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court directed that Adamu be remanded while it considers the application.

 

The order followed the arraignment of Adamu alongside Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd on a six-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving about N4.6 billion. The EFCC listed Adamu and the company as the first and second defendants in the charge.

 

 

 

According to the prosecution, Adamu allegedly committed the offences between June and December 2023 while serving as Branch Manager of Polaris Bank in Bauchi. He was accused of conspiring with others, who are currently at large, to facilitate the conversion, transfer, concealment and use of funds provided by Polaris Bank under the pretext of financing the supply of motorcycles to the Bauchi State Government. The prosecution alleged that the motorcycles were never supplied.

 

 

 

 

 

The charge further accused Adamu and his alleged accomplices of retaining and transferring proceeds of unlawful activities through nominees and third-party accounts. Part of the funds was said to have been routed through Makayye Investment Resources Ltd and Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd, including a transfer of N165.9 million.

 

 

 

When the case was called, the EFCC informed the court that it was ready to proceed with the arraignment. After the charges were read, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.

 

 

 

The prosecution applied for a trial date, while the defence informed the court of a pending bail application for Adamu, urging the court to grant bail on liberal terms. The EFCC opposed the application, citing a counter affidavit and asking the court to refuse bail and order an accelerated hearing.

 

 

 

 

Justice Nwite stated that a short date would be fixed for the ruling on the bail application and ordered that Adamu be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling. The court adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026.

 

 

 

The EFCC also informed the court that additional defendants had been identified and that a fresh charge had been filed, including Adamu. However, the judge ruled that the charge was not yet before the court and adjourned the arraignment to the following day.

 

 

 

The court later granted the prosecution’s request that Adamu be temporarily remanded in the EFCC’s custody to ease logistics ahead of the next court appearance.