The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, on a five-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism-related offences and illegal possession of firearms.
The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, also accuse the former AGF of deliberately refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were submitted to him during his tenure as Attorney General.
Both Malami and his son are further accused of unlawfully storing firearms and ammunition at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, without valid authorisation.
According to the DSS, Malami is charged in count one with knowingly abetting terrorism financing by failing to initiate prosecution against suspected financiers of terrorism. Counts two to five jointly accuse Malami and Abdulaziz of unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5.20 live rounds of ammunition, and 27 expended cartridges. The offences are said to be contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read in court.
Following their plea, prosecuting counsel, Calistus Eze, urged the court to remand the defendants in DSS custody and to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
In response, defence counsel, Shuaibu Aruwan (SAN), made an oral application for bail, arguing that the defendants had already spent over two weeks in DSS custody.
However, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik rejected the oral bail application, stating that the Federal High Court is a court of record and that bail applications must be made formally. She ordered the defence to file proper bail applications.
The court subsequently ordered that Malami and his son be remanded in DSS custody and adjourned the case until February 20 for the commencement of trial.
