Abubakar Malami, Former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami were on Tuesday arraigned in the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of fire
The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on abetting terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms, the prosecuting counsel, Callistus Eze, told the court.
“My Lord, before you is a five-count charge dated February 2 and filed on February 3. Subject to the convenience of the court, I apply that the said charge be read to the defendants,” he said.
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The defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts. Eze then requested a trial date and asked that they be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending further proceedings.
Shuiabu Arua SAN, Counsel to the defendants, applied orally for bail, noting that the defendants had been in DSS custody for two weeks and were brought to court directly from the hospital.
The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, however, directed the counsel to file a formal bail application.
The five-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, alleges that Malami knowingly abetted terrorism financing in November 2022 while serving as attorney-general by refusing to prosecute alleged terrorism financiers whose case files were submitted to his office.
This offence is said to contravene Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In counts two to five, Malami and his son are jointly charged with engaging in conduct preparatory to committing acts of terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The prosecution alleged that in December 2025, at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi, the defendants were found in possession of a Sturm Magnum firearm without a licence, along with 16 live rounds and 27 expended Redstar cartridges, all without lawful authority.
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These offences are punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Sections 3 and 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until February 20 for trial to commence and ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.
