The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, seeking the disqualification of Justice Mohammed Umar from presiding over an alleged terrorism financing case pending before the Abuja Division of the court.
In the petition, the anti-graft agency said it no longer had confidence in Justice Umar’s ability to handle the matter objectively and requested that the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025 be reassigned to another judge.
The case involves Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three civil servants, Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, who were arraigned on December 31, 2025, on a 10-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion of public funds, and alleged terrorism financing.
Adamu, a former branch manager of Polaris Bank Plc in Bauchi State, and his co-defendants were charged under provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants carried out cash transactions totalling about $9.7 million without routing them through any financial institution.
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According to the prosecution, between January and May 2024, Adamu and other signatories to Bauchi State Government accounts allegedly handed over $2.3 million in cash to Bello Bodejo and his associates.
Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, was previously arrested and charged with terrorism-related offences after allegedly establishing a vigilante group in Nasarawa State.
The Federal Government accused him of supporting activities prejudicial to national security under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. However, the charge against him was withdrawn in May 2024 before arraignment.
The EFCC further alleged that the funds were released with the approval of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and that the defendants had reasonable grounds to believe the money would be used, wholly or partly, to finance terrorist activities.
It added that the Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Jaja, and others linked to the alleged offence are currently at large.
The anti-graft agency faulted Justice Umar’s decision to grant the defendants bail, despite what it described as the gravity of the allegations and a counter-affidavit opposing their release.
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It noted that the defendants had earlier been denied bail by Justice Emeka Nwite, who initially handled the case and ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre.
Following the reassignment of the case, Justice Umar, on January 21, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100 million each with two sureties in like sum.
He also ordered them to surrender their international passports, refrain from travelling without court approval and report weekly to the Bauchi office of the Department of State Services.
When the matter came up on Thursday, Justice Umar announced his decision to step aside temporarily, pending the Chief Judge’s decision on the EFCC’s petition.
Despite objections from defence counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, who urged the court to proceed with the trial, the judge adjourned the case sine die, saying his action was in the interest of justice.
All the defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges and remain on bail pending further proceedings.
