EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Finance Commissioner Over Alleged ₦5.7bn Looting; Court Orders Remand in Correctional Centre

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially commenced the prosecution of a high-ranking official in the Bauchi State Government as part of its year-end “clean-up” operations.

The Commission brought the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Yakubu Adamu, before the state High Court on charges related to the alleged diversion and laundering of ₦5.7 billion in public funds.

According to the charge sheet, Adamu is accused of orchestrating a complex scheme that involved the illegal transfer of state funds into private commercial bank accounts. The EFCC claims these funds were originally earmarked for critical rural road projects and the upgrading of healthcare facilities across the state’s 20 local government areas.

Appearing before Justice Muazu Abubakar, the Commissioner looked calm as the court registrar read the charges. When asked for his plea, Adamu replied, “I am not guilty, my Lord.”

The EFCC lead prosecutor, Abubakar Aliyu, informed the court that the Commission had sufficient evidence, including forensic financial trails, to prove that the ₦5.7 billion was systematically siphoned over a 24-month period. He urged the court to deny the defendant bail, arguing that as a sitting Commissioner, he possessed the influence to interfere with potential witnesses.

In a swift counter-argument, the defense lead, Musa Idris (SAN), urged the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms. He emphasized that the Commissioner is a “servant of the state” who had cooperated with investigators throughout the preliminary inquiry.

“The defendant is a high-ranking official with deep roots in the community. There is no flight risk here. We ask the court to allow him to prepare his defense from home.” — Defense Counsel, Musa Idris

However, Justice Abubakar declined to grant immediate bail. In his ruling, the judge ordered that the Commissioner be remanded at the Bauchi Correctional Centre until the formal hearing of the bail application.

The case has been adjourned to January 12, 2026, for a ruling on the bail motion and the commencement of the trial. This arraignment comes amid a broader national focus on fiscal transparency, following the recent introduction of the 2025 Tax Reform Acts and the Federal Government’s pledge to tighten oversight on state-level spending.