March 10, (THEWILL) — The Federal High Court in Abuja has denied Yakubu Adamu, Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, permission to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for pilgrimage, citing procedural deficiencies in his application amid an ongoing ₦4.6 billion money laundering investigation.
Justice Emeka Nwite, ruling on Monday, held that Adamu failed to provide sufficient legal materials to support his request. The judge also upheld the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) objection that the affidavit accompanying the motion was defective, as it was not signed by Adamu himself.
“An unsigned document has no probative value in law”, Justice Nwite stated, noting that while the applicant’s fundamental rights under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution are acknowledged, such rights are not absolute. The judge also dismissed Adamu’s reliance on a previous Ibori case, explaining that it was based on medical grounds and, therefore, inapplicable.
Adamu, in motion number FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025, had requested the release of his international passport and leave to perform Hajj, pledging to return to Nigeria by March 21 and comply with all court proceedings. In the supporting affidavit, deposed to by Emmanuel Tsebo, a litigation secretary at the law firm of Chris Uche, SAN & Co, Adamu emphasised that performing Hajj is an integral aspect of his religious practice.
The EFCC arraigned Adamu and Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd for allegedly facilitating and converting ₦4.65 billion intended for the supply of motorcycles to the Bauchi State Government under a Polaris Bank facility. The funds were allegedly diverted to third-party accounts in violation of Sections 20 and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Adamu, a former Polaris Bank branch manager, was granted ₦500 million bail on January 2, 2026, with two sureties in like sum, but was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending perfection of bail conditions. He and three co-defendants are also facing separate charges of alleged terrorism financing amounting to $9.7 million, which is currently under review following an EFCC petition requesting the case be transferred to another court.
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