ABUJA, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, seeking the disqualification of Justice Mohammed Umar from an alleged terrorism-financing case involving Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance Yakubu Adamu and three co-defendants. The anti-graft agency said it no longer had confidence in the judge’s ability to handle the matter objectively and asked that the case, FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, be reassigned.
When the case came up in Abuja on Thursday, Justice Umar said he would not proceed with the trial while awaiting the Chief Judge’s decision on the EFCC’s letter. He described the issue as administrative rather than judicial and adjourned the matter sine die, or indefinitely. Defence lawyer Chris Uche, SAN, objected to the move and argued that the defence had not been copied on the prosecution’s communication to the Chief Judge. The defendants — Adamu, Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed — were first arraigned on December 31, 2025, on a 10-count charge involving conspiracy, conversion of public funds, money laundering and alleged terrorism financing. The EFCC says the accused conducted cash transactions worth about $9.7 million without routing them through financial institutions.
According to the prosecution, between January and May 2024, the defendants allegedly authorized or facilitated the transfer of $2.3 million in cash to Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and others said to be associated with him. The EFCC alleges the funds were released with reason to believe they could be used, in whole or in part, to finance terrorist activity. The defendants have pleaded not guilty. The EFCC’s petition follows a disputed bail ruling. Earlier, vacation judge Justice Emeka Nwite had denied the defendants bail on January 5, 2026, citing the gravity of the allegations and national security concerns. But after the case was reassigned, Justice Umar granted each defendant N100 million bail on January 21, ordered them to surrender their passports, and directed them to report weekly to the DSS office in Bauchi State.
The case also intersects with the earlier prosecution of Bello Bodejo, who was charged separately in 2024 with terrorism-related offences before the federal government withdrew those charges in May 2024, leading to his discharge. That withdrawal has remained one of the issues referenced in later court arguments around the Bauchi case.
With Thursday’s adjournment, the next step now rests with the Chief Judge, who must decide whether Justice Umar will continue with the trial or whether the case will be transferred to another courtroom.
