The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
The defendants were docked on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism-related offences and illegal arms possession, contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the DSS, Malami allegedly aided terrorism financing while in office by refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for legal action.
One of the charges alleges that in November 2022, at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Maitama, Abuja, Malami knowingly obstructed the prosecution of terrorism suspects, an offence punishable under Section 26(2) of the Act.
The DSS also accused Malami and his son of engaging in preparatory acts of terrorism through the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition at their residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Prosecutors told the court that the defendants were found with a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 live Redstar AAA cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges without a valid licence, contrary to Section 29 of the Act.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following their plea, DSS counsel, Calistus Eze, asked the court to remand the defendants in DSS custody and fix a trial date. Defence counsel, Shuaibu Aruwan, made an oral bail application, which was rejected by the trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who directed the defence to file a formal bail request.
The court subsequently ordered that Malami and his son be remanded in DSS custody and adjourned the case to February 20 for further hearing.
Malami was arrested on January 19 at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, shortly after meeting bail conditions in a separate money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had earlier arraigned Malami, his son, and his wife on a 16-count charge involving alleged money laundering of ₦8.71 billion, said to have been carried out between 2015 and 2025 through multiple bank accounts and corporate entities.
