Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Federal Government on Wednesday withdrew terrorism financing charges against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, replacing them with a fresh five-count charge bordering on alleged illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The prosecution team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the trial court that it was seeking to amend the charge to reflect new details concerning weapons and live cartridges allegedly recovered from Malami’s residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Malami, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, and his son were subsequently re-arraigned and both pleaded not guilty to the amended charge.
Defence counsel, Shuaibu Arua (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal and substitution of the earlier charge but urged the court to allow the defendants to continue on the bail previously granted to them. The prosecution raised no objection.
In her ruling, trial judge Joyce Abdulmalik held that the existing bail conditions granted on February 27 would remain in force, noting that the defendants had already complied with the requirements. The court adjourned the matter to May 26 and June 15 for trial.
The case originated from a February 3 arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS), which had accused Malami of knowingly enabling terrorism financing by allegedly failing to prosecute suspects whose case files were forwarded to his office while he served as AGF.
Both defendants were also initially accused of unlawful possession of firearms, offences said to contravene the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the alleged offences occurred in December 2025 at Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where the defendants were said to have stored firearms without lawful authority.
Prosecutors specifically alleged that the defendants were found in possession of a Sturm Magnum firearm, along with multiple live and expended Redstar cartridges, without a valid licence.
Despite the allegations, Malami and his son have consistently denied any wrongdoing. They were earlier granted bail in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
