A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The court adjourned their case to February 20 for a hearing on their bail application and the commencement of trial.
The decision came on Tuesday as the duo were arraigned on a five-count charge filed by the DSS, containing grave allegations of terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
The charges detail a two-pronged accusation against the former nation’s chief law officer. The first and most severe count alleges that Malami, while in office as AGF in November 2022, “did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose casefiles were brought to [his] office.”
This offence is contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The remaining four counts relate to an alleged discovery of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition at the Malami family residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, in December 2025.
Both father and son are charged with possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 live cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges without the requisite licences—offences under both the Terrorism Act and the Firearms Act.
The prosecution did not oppose the defence’s request for an adjournment to prepare for the bail hearing. Consequently, Justice remanded the defendants in DSS custody and fixed February 20, 2025, as the date for the next hearing.
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