By Jane Okafor, Abuja
The Department of State Services has finally arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulazeez Malami, for alleged terrorism financing and aiding and abetting terrorism, and unlawful possession of firearms.
Father and son were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Malami was charged under Count One with “knowingly abetting terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecution.”
However, in the former AGF and his son were jointly charged under Counts Two to Five for unlawful possession of firearms. Both pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following the arraignment, the prosecuting counsel, Dr C.S. Eze, prayed the court to remand both defendants in DSS custody pending the commencement of the trial.
In response, lead defence counsel, S.A. Alua, SAN, applied orally for bail for the defendants. Justice Abdulmalik ruled that “the court is a court of record” and could only entertain a written application for bail.
The case was adjourned to February 20 for a hearing on the bail application and commencement of the trial.
The charges under Counts Two to Five allege that the ex-AGF and his son unlawfully possessed a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds, and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5720 cartridges, contrary to the relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
Counts in the charge read:
“That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adult, male, sometime in November 2022 at Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose casefiles were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecution, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 (2) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II, Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in a conduct in preparation to commit act of terrorism by having in your possession and without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5°20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.
“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act. COUNT FIVE
“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”
