The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, pending a ruling on his bail application.

Justice Emeka Nwite made the order after Adamu’s counsel, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), moved a bail application on his behalf, which was opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The order followed the arraignment of Adamu and Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd on a six-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering amounting to ₦4.6 billion.

The EFCC, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025, listed Adamu and the company as the first and second defendants respectively. The charge, dated December 19, was filed by Samuel Chime of the EFCC’s Legal and Prosecution Department.

According to the prosecution, Adamu, while serving as Branch Manager of Polaris Bank Ltd, Bauchi, allegedly conspired between June and December 2023 with Ishaku Aliyu, Managing Director of Makayye Investment Resources Ltd, and Muntaka Mohammed Duguri, both currently at large, to commit the offence.

They were accused of facilitating the conversion, transfer, concealment and use of about ₦4.65 billion provided by Polaris Bank under the pretext of financing the supply of motorcycles to the Bauchi State Government through Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises.

The prosecution alleged that the motorcycles were never supplied, thereby constituting an offence contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In count six, the defendants were further accused of retaining and transferring proceeds of unlawful activities through nominees and third-party accounts in 2023. This allegedly included transactions through Makayye Investment Resources Ltd and the transfer of ₦165.9 million to Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd.

The EFCC maintained that the funds formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act, contrary to Section 20(a) and punishable under Section 20 of the same Act.

When the case was called, the EFCC informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment and expressed readiness to proceed. The defence did not oppose the arraignment.

After the charges were read, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all six counts.

The prosecution then applied for a trial date, while the defence informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of Adamu, urging the court to grant bail on liberal terms.

In response, the EFCC disclosed that it had filed a 15-paragraph counter-affidavit with an exhibit on December 22, opposing the bail request and urging the court to deny the application and order an accelerated hearing.

Uche reminded the court of an earlier appeal seeking Adamu’s temporary release to the Bauchi State Attorney-General, citing the need to facilitate the payment of workers’ salaries in the state. However, the court declined the request, noting that a short date would be fixed for ruling.

Justice Nwite subsequently ordered Adamu’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling on the bail application and adjourned the case to January 2, 2026, for the ruling.

Following the adjournment, the EFCC informed the court of its intention to arraign additional defendants in the matter, stating that a fresh charge involving Adamu and others had been filed.

However, the judge ruled that the new charge was not before the court and adjourned the arraignment until Wednesday.

At the EFCC’s request, the court granted permission for Adamu to be temporarily remanded in the commission’s custody to ease logistical challenges ahead of the next arraignment.