February 03, (THEWILL) — Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz, were on Tuesday, arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count charge involving terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms, charges to which they pleaded not guilty.
The counts against them include allegations of abetting terrorism financing, possession of a Sturm Magnum firearm, and keeping live and expended ammunition without a licence. The prosecution claims the offences occurred between November 2022 and December 2025.
Brought under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004, the Department of State Services (DSS), alleged that while serving as AGF, Malami knowingly ignored his duty to prosecute individuals suspected of financing terrorism, despite receiving their case files in his office.
In addition, the Service accused Malami and his son of illegally storing firearms and ammunition at their home in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi LGA, without the necessary legal permits.
According to the prosecution, the items reportedly found in their possession include a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen (16) live rounds of Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges.
After the charges were read, both Malami and his son pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting counsel, Calistus Eze, requested that the court remand them in DSS custody and set a date for the trial to commence.
Defence counsel, Shuaibu Aruwan (SAN), applied orally for bail, arguing that his clients had already spent over two weeks in DSS detention. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik rejected the oral application, emphasising that formal bail applications must be filed in a court of record.
The court subsequently ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody and adjourned the trial until February 20 for commencement.
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