The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, for arraignment on December 30 over alleged ₦4.6 billion money laundering.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the directive on Wednesday after the EFCC failed, for the second time, to present Adamu in court for plea-taking. The judge warned that the prosecuting counsel would face sanctions if the defendant is not produced on the next adjourned date.
Adamu and Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd are listed as the first and second defendants in a six-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025.
According to the charge filed by the EFCC on December 19, Adamu, while serving as Branch Manager of Polaris Bank in Bauchi, allegedly conspired with Ishaku Mohammed Aliyu, Managing Director of Makayye Investment Resources Ltd, and Muntaka Mohammed Duguri, both reportedly at large, to launder about ₦4.65 billion between June and December 2023.
The prosecution alleged that the funds were disbursed by Polaris Bank under the pretext of financing the supply of motorcycles to the Bauchi State Government through Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises, but the motorcycles were never delivered.
The EFCC said the alleged actions contravened Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another count accused the defendants of retaining and transferring proceeds of unlawful activities through third parties, including the alleged transfer of ₦165.9 million to Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd.
The defendants were initially scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday, but the matter could not proceed due to the absence of both the prosecution and the defendants. When the case was called again on Wednesday, Adamu was still not in court.
EFCC counsel Samuel Chime apologised for the delay and requested an adjournment, explaining that the prosecution intended to amend the charge to include additional suspects who were still at large. He also sought an extension of the remand order to allow for a joint arraignment.
However, lead defence counsel Chief Gordy Uche (SAN) opposed the application, arguing that the charge was already ripe for arraignment and that investigations ought to have been concluded before filing the case.
Uche further raised concerns about the impact of Adamu’s continued detention, stating that Bauchi State had been adversely affected, with thousands of workers allegedly unpaid since the finance commissioner’s arrest.
Justice Nwite expressed strong dissatisfaction with the EFCC’s handling of the case, describing the prosecution’s conduct as unfair and unprofessional.
“If you are not ready, why bring the charge?” the judge queried, warning that severe sanctions would follow if the defendant is not produced on the next court date.
The case was adjourned to December 30, with the court reiterating its order that Adamu must be presented for arraignment.
