A Federal High Court in Abuja has arraigned Nigeria’s former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, on allegations of terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The charges were filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) and presented before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Tuesday. The five-count charge sheet alleges that Malami “knowingly abetted terrorism financing” by failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office while he served as attorney-general.
In addition, prosecutors accuse both men of unlawfully possessing a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, live ammunition and expended cartridges at their residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Those counts allege conduct “in preparation to commit acts of terrorism” and violations of Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as the Firearms Act, 2004.
Both Malami and his son pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court. Their oral request for bail was refused, with the judge instructing defence counsel to file a formal application. The court adjourned the matter until February 20, when the trial is expected to begin.
Malami, who served as Nigeria’s attorney-general and justice minister from 2015 to 2023, has also been facing separate allegations of money-laundering involving billions of naira filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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