- Governor Bala Mohammed has strongly denied any involvement in terrorism financing, describing the allegations as shocking
- He also alleged that members of his family and officials within his administration had been subjected to arrests
- After the accused persons entered not-guilty pleas, EFCC counsel, Samuel Chime, urged the court to set a date for trial
The Federal Government has reportedly linked Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, to an alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing investigation involving the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three other officials.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday brought Adamu alongside Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed before a Federal High Court in Abuja to answer charges bordering on criminal collaboration, unlawful diversion of public funds and terror-related financing.
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The anti-graft agency told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences under provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which prescribes stiff penalties for such violations.
Following their arraignment, trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered that all four defendants be held at the Kuje Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the commencement of full trial fixed for January 5.
After the accused persons entered not-guilty pleas, EFCC counsel, Samuel Chime, urged the court to set a date for trial, indicating readiness to call witnesses and tender documentary evidence.
However, lead defence counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN), moved a bail application on behalf of the defendants, stressing that the motion had been properly filed and served on the prosecution since December 30. He argued that the continued detention of Adamu was already affecting salary payments to more than 60,000 Bauchi State workers.
In response, Chime confirmed receipt of the bail request, noting that the commission had filed a joint counter-affidavit opposing the application. The defence also clarified that while Adamu was arrested earlier, the other three defendants voluntarily honoured EFCC invitations before being taken into custody.
The prosecution further alleged that between January and May 2024, the defendants approved and facilitated the release of about $2.3 million to individuals linked to Bello Bodejo, allegedly acting on authorisation traced to Governor Bala Mohammed.
According to the EFCC, additional sums totalling $7.4 million were reportedly moved in cash through a Bureau De Change operator, actions said to be in breach of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Meanwhile, Governor Bala Mohammed has strongly denied any involvement in terrorism financing, describing the allegations as shocking and politically motivated.
Speaking in Bauchi on Wednesday after receiving a Safety Ambassador Award from the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), the governor expressed outrage over the continued detention of his finance commissioner, insisting that dragging his name into the matter despite his constitutional immunity was unjust.
“I woke up to hear that I am being linked to terrorism as a sitting governor and leader of the opposition. My commissioner remains in custody, and my name was mentioned in court filings. This is unbelievable,” Mohammed said.
The governor accused the Federal Government of allegedly using state institutions, including the EFCC and the judiciary, to intimidate opposition figures, warning that such actions could deepen political tensions across the country.
He further criticised the ruling party’s governance record, claiming that Bauchi State had not benefitted significantly from federal resources despite huge national revenues.
Mohammed maintained that he had chosen restraint in the past to preserve peace but declared that he would no longer tolerate what he described as harassment, insisting that his refusal to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should not make him a target.
He also alleged that members of his family and officials within his administration had been subjected to arrests and prolonged detention without concrete evidence, calling the situation unacceptable in a democratic setting.
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