…The DSS had arraigned Malami and his son on six counts bordering on terrorism-related offences.
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday postponed the alleged terrorism trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, to March 10, 2026.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the adjournment after the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, requested additional time to familiarise himself with the case file.
Oyedepo told the court that the prosecution only recently received the file, which was transferred from the State Security Services to the Department of Public Prosecutions. He appealed for a short adjournment, stating that four days would be sufficient for the prosecution to be ready.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr Adedayo Adedeji, did not oppose the request but urged the court to strike out the case if the prosecution fails to open its case on the next adjourned date, citing alleged lack of diligent prosecution.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 10 for trial and directed the prosecution to formally open its case on that date.
The DSS had arraigned Malami and his son on six counts bordering on terrorism-related offences. In one count, the Federal Government alleged that Malami, in November 2022, knowingly aided terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were submitted to his office while he was Attorney-General.
The offence is said to contravene Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In another charge, the prosecution alleged that Malami and his son engaged in conduct preparatory to terrorism by unlawfully possessing a Sturm Magnum firearm, 16 live cartridges and 27 expended cartridges at their residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, in December 2025. They were also accused of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition under the Firearms Act.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to all the charges at their arraignment on February 3.
