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A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused bail for the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and other defendants over alleged terrorism financing of about $9.7 million.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite described the allegations as serious, saying they pose a threat to national security and public safety.
He held that granting bail at this stage could endanger the public and destabilise society.
The judge said that although the Constitution presumes an accused person innocent, courts must consider the nature of the offence, the strength of the evidence and the likely punishment when deciding on bail.
He hinted that the prosecution had placed sufficient material before the court to justify keeping the defendants in custody for now.
Justice Nwite, however, ordered an accelerated hearing to ensure a speedy trial. The court fixed January 13 for the commencement of proceedings.
Adamu and his co-defendants have remained at the Kuje Correctional Centre since their arraignment on December 31, 2025, where they pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Adamu and other Bauchi State civil servants of conspiring between January and May 2024 to move large sums of cash allegedly meant to finance a terrorist group. The prosecution claimed the Bauchi State governor approved the transactions.
The defendants face charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Money Laundering Act.
Separately, Adamu is standing trial in another money laundering case involving N4.6 billion linked to his tenure as a bank branch manager, in which the court granted him bail last week under strict conditions.
