The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubukar Malami (SAN) and his son, Abdulazeez on a 5-count charge bordering on abetting terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
They were arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of Federal High Court in Abuja
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court ordered their remand in the custody of the DSS, pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.
The DSS’ lawyer, Calistus Eze, had requested for a date from the court for commencement of trial.
Counsel to the defendants, Shuaibu Arua, pleaded the court to use its discretion and allow him move the bail application orally.
He reminded the court that the defendants have been in the custody of the prosecution for two weeks as well as coming to the court directly from hospital.
The judge ordered the defendants to file formal bail applications.She fixed February 20, for commencement of trail
Count one of the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, stated:”That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase Il Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adult, Male, sometime in November, 2022 at 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 casefiles were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecuton, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 (2) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Burnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adults, Males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in a conduct in preparation to commit act of terrorism by having in your possession and without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 520 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adults, Males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.
“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adults, Males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 five rounds of Cartridges, and thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.
“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase 11 Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adults, Males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”
