AGF Takes Over Terrorism, Illegal Firearms Case Against Malami, Son, As Case Is Adjourned

By Ayodele Oni

The trial of a former Attorney General of the Federation, (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN,  could not commence on Wednesday as his successor, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, officially, assumed responsibility for prosecuting Malami, in the terrorism and illegal firearms case filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Fagbemi took over the trial from the DSS on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

At Wednesday’s proceedings where prosecution of Malami and his son Abdulazeez Malami was to kick-start, Fagbemi through the Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, announced appearance in the matter.

He told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the trial could not proceed because Fagbemi has just taken over the prosecution.

According to him, the case file has just been delivered to the AGF and he needed time to study it to be able to take a well informed decision.

Malami represented by Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, expressed disgust over the delay in opening up the trial and asked the Judge to strike out the charge at the next adjourned date should the federal government come up with any excuse.

Responding, the DPPF said that the request for striking out of the charge was premature and urged the Judge to ignore it.

After taking arguments, Justice Abdulmalik fixed March 10 for the trial to be opened by the AGF.

The Court had, on February 27, admitted Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, to N200m bail, with two sureties, each one of whom must own landed property either in Maitama or Asokoro.

Justice Abdulmalik had said that the title of the property must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court along with valid international passports.

The sureties were also ordered to depose to affidavit of means and submit their two recent passport photographs with the court.

Besides, Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.

The DSS had arraigned Malami and his son, Abdulaziz on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

In the charge, marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Malami is also accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Malami and Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State without lawful authority.

The DSS accused Malami in count one of the charge, with knowingly abetting terrorism financing, while the ex-AGF and his son are charged in counts two to five, with unlawful, possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, contrary to and punishable under relevant Sections of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Firearms Act, 2004.