The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a petition to remove Justice Mohammed Umar of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court from a case involving alleged terrorism financing.
The agency told the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, that it no longer trusts Justice Umar to handle the matter fairly and asked for the case to be reassigned.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, involves the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three others accused of funding terrorist activities.
Adamu, who previously managed a branch of Polaris Bank in Bauchi, was arraigned on December 31, 2025, alongside civil servants Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
They face a ten-count charge including conspiracy, conversion of public funds, and terrorism financing under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
EFCC said the defendants moved around $9.7 million without involving any financial institution.
Between January and May 2024, Adamu and the Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Jaja, along with Samaila Irmiya Liman and the other defendants, gave $2.3 million in cash to Bello Bodejo and his associates.
Bodejo, who leads Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, was previously arrested and charged with terrorism but the charges were withdrawn in May 2024 before he could be arraigned.
The EFCC petition criticized Justice Umar for granting bail to Adamu and his co-defendants despite strong evidence and a counter-affidavit suggesting they should remain in detention.
The case had earlier been handled by Justice Emeka Nwite, who had denied bail and ordered the defendants remanded at Kuje prison. After the reassignment, Justice Umar granted bail of N100 million each with two sureties, requiring them to surrender international passports and report weekly to the DSS office in Bauchi.
During the latest hearing, Justice Umar said he would temporarily step aside to allow the Chief Judge to decide on the EFCC petition. Attempts by the defendants’ counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, to proceed with the trial were declined, and the case was adjourned indefinitely.
EFCC maintained that the defendants handed over the funds with the knowledge they would be used to support terrorism, and some involved, including the Accountant-General, are currently at large. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
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