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The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulazeez Malami, on five counts bordering on terrorism financing, aiding and abetting terrorism, and unlawful possession of firearms.
The defendants were brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
According to the charge sheet, Malami was accused under Count One of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by allegedly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office during his tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation.
Counts Two to Five jointly charge Malami and his son with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following the arraignment, the prosecuting counsel, Dr. C. S. Eze, requested an order remanding the defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services pending the commencement of trial.
In response, the lead defence counsel, S. A. Alua, SAN, made an oral application for bail on behalf of the defendants. However, Justice Abdulmalik declined to entertain the application, noting that the court, being a court of record, could only consider a written bail application.
The case was subsequently adjourned to February 20 for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial.
Details of the charges reveal that Counts Two to Five allege that Malami and his son unlawfully possessed a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds, and twenty-seven expended Redstar AAA 5720 cartridges, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
One of the counts alleges that Malami, sometime in November 2022 at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Maitama, Abuja, knowingly abetted terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were submitted to his office, an offence punishable under Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another count states that both defendants, sometime in December 2025 at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, allegedly engaged in conduct preparatory to acts of terrorism by possessing a firearm and ammunition without a licence, contrary to Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Further counts allege unlawful possession of a firearm, live ammunition, and expended cartridges without licence, offences said to be contrary to Sections 3 and 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004, and punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act.
The defendants remain in custody pending further proceedings.
