March 04, (THEWILL) — The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has formally taken over the prosecution of former AGF Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, who are facing charges of terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had filed a five-count charge against Malami and his son at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
On Wednesday, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the case file had been transmitted to the office of the AGF, prompting a request for adjournment to review the file and take an informed decision.
Counsel to the defendants, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, did not oppose the adjournment but cautioned that if the trial did not proceed on the next scheduled date, he would be compelled to apply for the charge to be struck out.
Oyedepo described the proposed application as premature.
Presiding, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the trial to March 10 for proceedings to commence.
THEWILL earlier reported that the court had granted the defendants bail of N200 million each, with two sureties in like sum, but they were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending perfection of bail conditions.
Conditions include one surety owning landed property in Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, with title documents deposited alongside valid international passports.
Sureties must also submit affidavits of means and recent passport photographs.
The defendants were ordered to surrender their international passports and provide recent photographs to the court.
The DSS charge under FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026 alleges that while serving as AGF and Minister of Justice, Malami knowingly refused to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were referred to him.
Both Malami and his son are also accused of unlawfully keeping firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State.
Count one alleges that Malami knowingly abetted terrorism financing, while counts two to five charge both him and Abdulaziz with illegal possession of firearms.
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