By: Joy Musa
A High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely the trial of Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Yakubu Adamu, PhD, over alleged terror financing charges.
The case, instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), took a new turn following a petition reportedly filed by the anti-graft agency seeking the transfer of the matter to another court.
Sources familiar with the proceedings disclosed that the EFCC filed a petition against the presiding judge shortly after the court granted bail to Hon. Adamu. The development is said to have prompted the agency to approach the Chief Judge, requesting that the case be reassigned.
According to the sources, the petition was based on concerns raised by the prosecution after the court admitted the defendant to bail on terms earlier considered by the defence as liberal and in line with constitutional provisions.
However, a member of the defence legal team, who spoke on condition of anonymity, argued that the proper legal procedure would have been for the prosecution to file a formal application before the same court, requesting the judge to recuse himself from further handling of the matter if there were grounds to do so.
“In actual sense, if the prosecution had reservations, the appropriate step would have been to bring an application for recusal before the court. Filing a petition directly to the Chief Judge is not the conventional approach in such circumstances,” the source said.
It was further gathered that the Chief Judge is yet to take a definitive position on the petition, and no official communication has been issued regarding the transfer of the case. This, observers say, may have contributed to the indefinite adjournment pending further administrative directives.
Meanwhile, the defence team expressed confidence in the judicial process, maintaining that Hon. Adamu remains innocent of the allegations and is prepared to clear his name in court.
“The legal team remains optimistic that justice will ultimately prevail. We have full confidence in the judiciary and believe that due process will be followed,” the source added.
The EFCC has yet to issue an official statement clarifying the grounds for its petition or the next steps in the prosecution.
The case has drawn significant public attention in Bauchi State and beyond, given the sensitivity of how the ruling Party APC is using any means necessary to silence the opposition through political witchhunting.
Further developments are expected once the administrative issues surrounding the petition are resolved.
