The Federal Government has withdrawn the terrorism financing charge previously filed against the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz.
At the resumed court proceedings, the prosecution team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), applied to substitute the initial charge with an amended five-count charge bordering on the alleged illegal possession of arms and ammunition. The government informed the court that the firearms and live cartridges were recovered from Malami’s residence in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital.
Following the amendment, Malami, who served as Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, and his son, entered fresh pleas of not guilty to the new charges.
Defence counsel, Shuaibu Arua (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal and substitution of the charges but urged the court to allow the defendants to retain the bail earlier granted to them. The prosecution did not contest this request.
In her ruling, trial judge Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the existing bail granted on February 27, along with all conditions previously fulfilled, would remain in force.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to May 26 and June 15 for trial.
Malami and his son were initially arraigned on February 3 by the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegations that included abetting terrorism financing. The former Attorney-General was accused of failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers despite case files allegedly submitted to his office during his tenure.
The amended charge now focuses on allegations of unlawful possession of firearms, contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004. According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the defendants allegedly stored firearms without lawful authority at their residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi.
Both defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
