A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the case involving Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment to a substantive judge.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the development on Tuesday, January 13, via its official X handle.
Justice Emeka Nwite made the order on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, explaining that the matter was handled during the court’s vacation period and must now be reassigned for full hearing after the vacation.
According to the judge, once the vacation ends, such matters should be transmitted to the registrar for onward delivery to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
“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.
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Adamu was arraigned by the EFCC on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
The defendants are facing a 10-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism financing, under 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 alleges that Adamu received cash payments totalling $6.95 million outside the financial system in 2024 while serving as commissioner for finance, an act the EFCC says contravenes the law. The defendants pleaded not guilty.
On Monday, January 5, 2026, Justice Nwite had rejected their bail applications and ordered that they be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the start of trial.
At the earlier sitting, the defendants’ lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court the defence was ready for trial. The EFCC also announced that Adebayo Ojo would take over the prosecution following a change of counsel.