The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to grant bail to Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and his co-defendants, who are facing charges of financing terrorism to the tune of $9.7 million.

In a ruling on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the offenses posed a serious threat to national security and public safety. He noted that terrorism-related crimes undermine social order and that releasing the accused before trial could put the public at risk.

While acknowledging Section 36(5) of the Constitution, which presumes an accused innocent until proven guilty, the judge stressed that this principle is “not absolute” and must be weighed alongside the nature of the offense, the evidence, and the severity of potential punishment.

“I have considered the affidavit evidence, the statements of prosecution witnesses including Dan Lawan Abdulmumuni, and the serious threat to national security this case represents. The prosecution has established a reasonable presumption of criminal responsibility. Therefore, the bail application is refused, and the matter will proceed on an accelerated hearing schedule,” Justice Nwite said.

The court adjourned the trial to January 13 for the commencement of proceedings.

Adamu and his co-defendants — Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed — were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre after their arraignment on a 10-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 31, 2025. All defendants pleaded not guilty.

The charges allege that between January and May 2024, the accused conspired to provide $2,300,000 to Bello Bodejo and associates, allegedly with approvals from Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. Other defendants, including former Bauchi Accountant-General Sirajo Jaja and Samaila Irmiya Liman, remain at large.

Separately, Adamu was recently granted bail in a money-laundering case, set at N500 million with two sureties of the same amount. The court ordered that the sureties must be landowners in Abuja’s Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa districts, with their property documents verified by the court registry.