A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, for arraignment on December 30 over alleged money laundering offences.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the directive on Wednesday following the EFCC’s failure, for the second time, to present Mr Adamu in court to answer a six-count charge involving about N4.6 billion.
Mr Adamu, a former branch manager of Polaris Bank, was initially scheduled for arraignment earlier in the week, but proceedings stalled after both the prosecution and defendants failed to appear.
At the resumed hearing, EFCC counsel Samuel Chime apologised to the court, explaining that the commission intended to amend the charge to include additional suspects.
He said the suspects had indicated willingness to honour EFCC invitations and requested an extension of the remand order to enable a joint arraignment on December 30.
However, the request was strongly opposed by defence counsel Gordy Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who accused the prosecution of acting in bad faith.
He argued that the existing charge was ripe for arraignment and revealed that the EFCC had already responded to a bail application without suggesting that investigations were ongoing or that new suspects were being sought.
Mr Uche further drew attention to the broader consequences of the commissioner’s continued detention, stating that over 60,000 Bauchi State workers had been unable to receive their salaries since his arrest.
He urged the court to compel the EFCC to produce the defendant immediately.
In response, the EFCC maintained that investigations had been concluded and insisted that the request was solely to ensure a uniform arraignment of all defendants.
Justice Nwite, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the prosecution, questioning why charges were filed when the EFCC was not prepared to proceed.
He described the commission’s actions as unprofessional and unfair, warning that failure to present the defendant at the next sitting would attract sanctions.
He subsequently fixed December 30 for the arraignment.
According to the EFCC, Mr Adamu allegedly conspired between June and December 2023 with Ishaku Mohammed Aliyu, Managing Director of Makayye Investment Resources Ltd, and Muntaka Mohammed Duguri, both currently at large, to launder about N4.65 billion.
The commission alleged that the funds were released under the pretext of financing motorcycle purchases for the Bauchi State Government through Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises, despite the motorcycles never being supplied.
The charges also include allegations of retaining and transferring proceeds of unlawful activities through third parties, including the transfer of N165.9 million to Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd.
The EFCC said the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
