AGF takes over Malami’s terrorism, firearms trial

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has taken over the prosecution of former AGF, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms charges.

The Department of State Services had filed a five-count charge against the duo before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that the case file had been transmitted to the Office of the AGF.

“My lord, I was informed by counsel to the DSS that the case file has been transmitted to the office of the AGF,” Oyedepo said, adding that an adjournment was necessary to enable a review of the file and allow the prosecution take an informed position.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), did not oppose the request for adjournment but warned that if the matter failed to proceed on the next date, he would apply for the charge to be struck out.

In response, the DPPF described the defence’s proposed application as premature and speculative.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case to March 10 for trial to commence.

At the previous sitting, the court granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200 million each with two sureties in like sum. However, they were ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.

As part of the conditions, one surety must own landed property in Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, and deposit the title documents with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court alongside a valid international passport. The sureties are also required to depose to affidavits of means and submit two recent passport photographs.

Malami and his son were further directed to surrender their international passports and submit recent passport photographs to the court.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the DSS accused Malami of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to him during his tenure as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

The former AGF and his son were also accused of unlawfully warehousing firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

While count one alleges that Malami knowingly abetted terrorism financing, counts two to five charge both defendants with unlawful possession of firearms.