By Bolu Adewale
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, seeking the disqualification of Justice Mohammed Umar from a terrorism financing case pending before the Abuja Division of the court.
In its petition to the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, the anti-graft agency said it no longer had confidence in the trial judge’s ability to handle the matter objectively.
The EFCC therefore requested that the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025 be reassigned in the interest of justice.
The case involves the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three others Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed who were arraigned on a ten-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion of public funds and alleged terrorism financing under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly carried out transactions valued at about 9.7 million dollars without recourse to any financial institution.
The Commission further alleged that 2.3 million dollars in cash was handed to Bello Bodejo, President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and persons associated with him.
Bodejo had earlier faced terrorism-related charges filed by the Federal Government under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, though the charge was later withdrawn before arraignment.
The EFCC contends that the defendants had reasonable grounds to believe that the funds allegedly transferred would be used to finance terrorist activities.
The anti-corruption agency also cited concerns over the grant of bail to the defendants by Justice Umar, noting that they were earlier denied bail by another judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, who had ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Justice Umar later admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of 100 million naira each with conditions, including surrender of international passports and weekly reporting to the Department of State Services in Bauchi.
When the matter came up for hearing, Justice Umar announced his decision to step aside temporarily pending the determination of the EFCC’s petition by the Chief Judge.
Despite objections from defence counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the court adjourned the case sine die.
The EFCC maintained that its actions are guided by statutory responsibility to ensure transparency, accountability and adherence to due process in matters involving alleged terrorism financing and money laundering, while the defendants have pleaded not guilty and remain on bail pending further proceedings.
