A Federal High Court in Abuja has returned the case file in the alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing and money laundering trial involving the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, to the Chief Judge of the court for reassignment to a substantive judge.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who had been handling the matter in his capacity as the court’s vacation judge, made the order on Tuesday following the conclusion of the annual court vacation.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite explained that since the case was taken up during the vacation period, due process required that the file be sent back to the Chief Judge for reassignment now that normal court sittings have resumed.
Adamu, a former branch manager of Polaris Bank Plc in Bauchi State, is standing trial alongside three others over allegations of terrorism financing and money laundering. The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 10-count charge.
The other accused persons are Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed, all described as Bauchi State civil servants. They were arraigned on December 31 last year and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
In an earlier ruling delivered on January 5, Justice Nwite denied the defendants bail, citing the gravity of the offences and their implications for national security and public safety. He ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre, granted accelerated hearing and fixed January 13 for the commencement of trial.
However, when the case was called yesterday, no legal representative appeared in court for the prosecution.
Counsel to the defendants, Chris Uche (SAN), informed the court that the judge had clearly indicated on January 5 that the matter was adjourned to yesterday because it was being heard as a vacation case.
“In compliance with the court’s directive, the defendants have been produced from Kuje Prison and we, their lawyers, are present for today’s proceedings,” Uche said.
He further told the court that he had encountered another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adebayo Ojo, in a different courtroom, who informed him that he had been engaged by the EFCC as the new lead counsel for the prosecution.
According to Uche, Ojo stated that his junior lawyers would represent the commission in court. However, when the court asked if any of the prosecution’s lawyers were present, there was no response.
The case will now await reassignment by the Chief Judge for further proceedings.