The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, alongside his son, Abdulazeez Malami, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
The defendants were brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik and docked on a five-count charge filed by the DSS, alleging that the former chief law officer of the federation knowingly aided terrorism financing while in office and jointly possessed prohibited weapons and ammunition without lawful authority.
According to the charge sheet, Malami was accused of deliberately refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office during his tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation.
The prosecution alleged that the omission amounted to knowingly abetting terrorism financing, contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In addition, Malami and his son were jointly charged with unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 live rounds of Redstar AAA 5.20 ammunition, and 27 expended cartridges, allegedly found at their residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, in December 2025. The offences were said to contravene provisions of both the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read in open court.
Following their arraignment, prosecuting counsel, Dr. C. S. Eze, urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the DSS pending the commencement of the trial. However, the defence team, led by S. A. Alua (SAN), made an oral application seeking bail for the accused persons.
Justice Abdulmalik declined to entertain the oral request, ruling that the court, being a court of record, could only consider a properly filed written bail application.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to February 20 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.
