ABUJA — The immediate past Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulazeez, were on Tuesday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism-related offences and unlawful possession of firearms.
The duo were docked before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on a five-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), bordering on alleged abetting of terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
After taking their pleas, Malami and his son, who both pleaded not guilty to all the charges, were ordered to be remanded in the custody of the DSS pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.
Counsel to the DSS, Calistus Eze, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial. However, defence counsel, Shuaibu Arua, appealed to the court to exercise its discretion by allowing an oral application for bail, noting that the defendants had already spent about two weeks in custody and were brought to court from a hospital.
Justice Abdulmalik, in her ruling, held that the court is a court of record and directed the defendants to file formal bail applications in line with due process.
The trial judge subsequently adjourned the matter to February 20 for the commencement of trial.
According to the charges, Malami is accused of allegedly failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers during his tenure as Attorney General, despite case files reportedly submitted to his office. Both defendants are also accused of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition at their residence in Kebbi State without valid licences, offences said to be contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
The defendants are expected to return to court on the adjourned date as legal fireworks begin in what is shaping up to be a high-profile terrorism-related trial.
