Court retains bail as trial begins May 26
By Rejoice Peterside
The Federal Government has withdrawn the terrorism financing charges earlier filed against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, and replaced them with fresh charges bordering on alleged illegal possession of arms and ammunition.
The development was disclosed on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the prosecution team, led by senior advocate Akinlolu Kehinde, applied to substitute the initial charges with an amended five-count charge.
The new charge centres on allegations that firearms and live ammunition were recovered from Malami’s residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Following the amendment, Malami and his son were re-arraigned before the court and both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the defendants, Shuaibu Arua, did not oppose the withdrawal of the earlier terrorism-related charges but urged the court to allow his clients to continue on the bail previously granted.
The prosecution did not object to the request.
In her ruling, trial judge Joyce Abdulmalik held that the existing bail conditions granted on February 27 would remain in force, noting that the defendants had already fulfilled the requirements.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to May 26 and June 15 for the commencement of trial.
Malami, who served as Minister of Justice under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, was initially arraigned alongside his son on February 3 by the Department of State Services.
The original charge accused him of allegedly aiding terrorism financing by failing to act on case files relating to suspected financiers.
Both defendants were also accused of unlawful possession of firearms under provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
According to the amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the defendants allegedly stored firearms without lawful authority at their residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area.
They had earlier been granted bail in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
With the latest development, the focus of the trial is expected to shift from terrorism financing allegations to the issue of illegal arms possession, as proceedings commence later this month.
