Fresh twists have emerged in the ₦4.6 billion money laundering investigation involving Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, as new allegations point to an alleged attempt to weaponise the judicial system against a key Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness.
At the centre of the controversy is Muntaka Mohammed Duguri, identified as a nephew of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. A government source familiar with the investigation told SaharaReporters that Duguri allegedly orchestrated a series of civil and Sharia court actions aimed at silencing Ishaku Mohammed Aliyu, a crucial prosecution witness in the EFCC case.
Aliyu, the Managing Director of I.S. Makayye Investment Resources Ltd, is listed alongside Duguri as a co-accused in a six-count charge filed by the EFCC at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over the alleged laundering of ₦4.65 billion.
According to the source, Duguri initially gave Aliyu money to carry out transactions involving certain individuals. Shortly afterwards, those same individuals allegedly instituted civil suits against Aliyu at Duguri’s prompting, in what investigators believe was a calculated move to frame him.
Aliyu reportedly hired a lawyer, Barrister Zubairu A. Bube of Agbejemi & Partners Chambers, to defend him. However, it is alleged that the lawyer later colluded with Duguri, deceived Aliyu, fabricated court processes, and induced him to sign documents that were eventually used against him at the Bauchi State High Court.
“As a reward for betraying his client, Duguri allegedly bought Barrister Zubairu a brand-new ash-coloured Honda E.O.D vehicle,” the source claimed.
The situation reportedly worsened when a separate case was filed at Upper Sharia Court 3 in Bauchi by Iro Dan Gombe and Sunusi Gezna. The court, presided over by Malam Wuro Jamel, allegedly ordered Aliyu’s immediate remand at the Bauchi Correctional Centre.
While Aliyu was in custody, Duguri allegedly paid a ₦1 million bribe to a judicial officer—now said to be serving as a Deputy Chief Registrar at the Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi—to secure an order allowing the sale of Aliyu’s residential property at Fadaman Mada, Bauchi. The house was subsequently sold, according to the source.
Adding to the controversy, SaharaReporters learnt that the case files relating to the Sharia Court proceedings have gone missing. The Registrar of Upper Sharia Court 3, Malam Abdul’aziz, reportedly confirmed that the files could not be found and disclosed that he had been instructed not to grant access to them pending further directives.
Duguri and Aliyu are both co-accused in the EFCC case against Finance Commissioner Yakubu Adamu, who is accused of conspiring to launder ₦4.6 billion during his time as a branch manager at Polaris Bank Ltd. On December 24, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered the EFCC to produce Adamu for arraignment on December 30, warning of sanctions over further delays.
Investigators further allege that Duguri fled to Egypt after Governor Bala Mohammed was alerted that Aliyu had volunteered a detailed statement to the EFCC on the alleged laundering scheme. Sources say Aliyu’s disappearance has significantly stalled the case, as his testimony is considered vital to strengthening the prosecution’s evidence.
