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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday decided on March 10 for the Department of State Services (DSS) to commence proceedings against former Federal Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and his son Abdulaziz Malami on charges of terrorist financing and illegal possession of firearms.
DSS arraigned Malami and his son Abdulaziz on the criminal charges in court on February 27, during which the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, granted bail to the former AGF and his son and adjourned the matter until Wednesday, March 4.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that the office had recently taken over the case from DSS and needed time to ascertain the facts of the matter.
In response, the DPPF said the request by the Maramis’ lawyers to cancel the case was premature and asked the judge to ignore it.
After hearing arguments, Judge Abdulmalik set a March 10 start date for the DPP’s trial.
On February 27, the court granted bail of 200m each to Malami and her son Abdulaziz.
There must be two guarantors, each of whom must own landholdings in the noble Maitama or Asaso districts.
Justice Abdulmalik said that the ownership of the property must be deposited with the deputy registrar of the court along with a valid international passport.
The guarantors were also ordered to submit an affidavit of means and submit two recent passport photos to the court.
Additionally, Malami and her son were ordered to provide the court with their international passports and recent passport photos.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has indicted Malami and her son Abdulaziz on five counts of terrorism and illegal possession of firearms.
In the complaint filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami is also accused of refusing to prosecute terrorist financing suspects whose case files were passed to him while serving as AGF and Minister of Justice.
Malami and Abdulaziz are similarly accused of storing firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase 2 area of Birain Kebbi LGA of Kebbi State without legal authority.
While the DSS charged Malami with knowingly aiding and abetting the financing of terrorism in Count 1, the former AGF and his son were charged in Counts 2 to 5 with unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 rounds of Red Star AAA 5720 live ammunition, and 27 rounds of spent Red Star AAA 5’20 ammunition, making them subject to penalties contrary to the relevant provisions of the DSS. Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Firearms Act 2004.
The count while charging is as follows:
*You, Abubakar Malami, Gesse Stage 2 Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adult, Male, on a certain November 2022, at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, for refusing to prosecute a terrorist financier whose docket was submitted to your office as the Attorney General of the Federation, and knowingly abetting the financing of terrorism. This would amount to a breach of section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and a punishable offense.
*Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz Malami, adult, male, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, on a certain day in December 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court. At your address in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, you have engaged in acts of preparation for terrorist acts by being in your possession or not in your possession. Using a license, Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 rounds of Red Star AAA 5°20 live ammunition and 27 rounds of Red Star AAA 5’20 cartridges, committed a punishable offense in contravention of section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
*You, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, adults, male, of Gesse Phase 2 Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, sometime in December 2025, at your residence located in Gesse Phase 2 Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, illegally produced Sturm Magnum 17-0101. was in possession of. Possession of a firearm thereby commits an offense contrary to section 3 of the Firearms Act 2004 and is punishable under section 27(1) of that Act.
* Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase 2 Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adult, male, that sometime in December 2025, at your residence in Gesse Phase 2 Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, possessed 16 Red Star AAAs without a license; fired a live round for 5 minutes and 20 seconds, thereby committing an offense contrary to section 8(1) of the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under section 27(1) of that Act. count five
You, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adults, Male, for having unauthorized possession of 27 used Red Star AAAs sometime in December 2025 at your residence in Gesse Phase 2 Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court. 5’20 ammunition, thereby committing an offense contrary to section 8(1) of the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under section 27(1) of that Act.
