Alleged Terrorism: Malami, Son Arraigned, Remanded In Prison

The former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and his Son, Abdulazeez Malami, have been arraigned over allegations of terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.

The defendant pleaded not guilty before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to the five-count charge brought against them by the federal government.

The court ordered that the defendants be remanded into the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.

Following the not guilty plea, counsel to the DSS, Calistus Eze, prayed the court for a date to commence trial and asked that the defendants be remanded in the custody of DSS pending further proceedings.

Reacting, counsel for the defendants, Shuaibu Arua, pleaded for the court’s discretion to allow him to move the bail application orally.

He reminded the court that the defendants had been in the prosecution’s custody for two weeks and had appeared in court directly from the hospital.

Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik, in her response, held that she presides over a court of record and ordered the defendants to file a former bail application.

Therefore, the court ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody.

Meanwhile, the matter is adjourned till  20th of February, for commencement of trial. The charge marked DHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026 stated in Count one

“That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase Il Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, – Kebbi State, Adult, Male, sometime in November, 2022 at Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terronsm financiers whose case files were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecution, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 (2) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count two read “That you, Abubakar Malamu and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase I Area, Burnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adults, Males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in a conduct in preparation to commit act of terrorism by having in your possession and without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 520 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

While count three said, “That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adults, Males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the x. qe Act.

Count four read: “That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adults, Males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5°20 five rounds of Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act. COUNT FIVE That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase 11 Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adults, Males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession 7Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5°20 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act | 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

And Count Five, read, “That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase 11 Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adults, Males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession 7Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5°20 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act | 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”