By Abu Adamu
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over allegations that he deliberately refused to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers while serving in office under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, were on Tuesday brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they are facing a five-count charge bordering on abetting terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
When the matter was called, prosecuting counsel, Callistus Eze, informed the court that the charges, dated February 2 and filed on February 3, were brought by the Federal Government through the DSS. He applied for the charges to be read to the defendants.
Both Malami and his son pleaded not guilty to all the counts after the charges were read to them.
Following the pleas, the prosecution urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and requested that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody pending further proceedings.
Counsel to the defendants, Shuiabu Arua, SAN, made an oral application for bail, arguing that the court should exercise its discretion in favour of his clients. He told the court that the defendants had been in DSS custody for about two weeks and were brought to court directly from the hospital.
In a brief ruling, the trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, declined the oral application and directed the defence to file a formal bail application, stressing that the court is a court of record.
She adjourned the matter to February 20 for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami is accused in the first count of knowingly abetting terrorism financing during his tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation.
The DSS alleged that in November 2022, while Malami was head of the Federal Ministry of Justice, he refused to prosecute individuals suspected of financing terrorism, despite case files being formally submitted to his office for legal action.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In counts two to five, Malami and his son are jointly accused of engaging in conduct preparatory to acts of terrorism, as well as unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The prosecution alleged that in December 2025, at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, Kebbi State, the defendants were found in possession of a Sturm Magnum firearm without a valid licence.
They were also alleged to have unlawfully possessed 16 live rounds and 27 expended rounds of Redstar cartridges.
The offences are said to be contrary to Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Sections 3 and 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004, punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act.
While Malami is the sole defendant in the count relating to alleged refusal to prosecute terrorism financiers, both defendants are jointly charged in the remaining counts on firearms and ammunition. The court adjourned the case to February 20 for trial to begin.