The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, on a five-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
In the charge filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Malami is also accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were allegedly forwarded to him during his tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Malami and his son are further accused of unlawfully storing firearms at their residence located at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, without lawful authority.
In count one of the charge, the DSS alleged that the former AGF knowingly aided terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute suspected financiers of terrorism. In counts two to five, Malami and Abdulaziz are jointly charged with unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5.20 live rounds of ammunition, and twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5.20 cartridges.
The offences are said to be contrary to and punishable under relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in open court.
Following their plea, the prosecuting counsel, Calistus Eze, applied for an order remanding the defendants in the custody of the DSS and requested that a trial date be fixed.
In response, defence counsel, Shuaibu Aruwan, SAN, made an oral application for bail, arguing that the defendants had already been in DSS custody for over two weeks.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik rejected the oral bail application, noting that the Federal High Court is a court of record and directed the defence to file a formal bail application.
She consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody and adjourned the matter until February 20 for the commencement of trial.
One of the counts reads in part: “That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, Kebbi State, sometime in November 2022 at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were brought to your office as Attorney-General of the Federation, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count alleges that: “That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, sometime in December 2025, at your residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in conduct preparatory to the commission of an act of terrorism by unlawfully possessing a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5.20 live rounds of ammunition, and twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5.20 cartridges, without licence, contrary to Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Further counts allege unlawful possession of the firearm, live ammunition, and expended cartridges without licence, contrary to Sections 3 and 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004, and punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act.
