Terror Funding Case: Switch in Legal Team Delays Malami's Court Proceedings

The Federal Government has appointed a new prosecutor to oversee the ongoing trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, who is facing a five-count charge related to terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.

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Malami, who served as Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, was arraigned alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and they both pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

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The case was handed over to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) by the Department of State Services (DSS) on March 4, when it was slated for the commencement of a full hearing, and the DSS withdrew from the prosecution to allow the AGF’s office to take over.

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The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court of AGF Prince Lateef Fagbemi’s decision to prosecute the defendants and added that the DSS had transmitted the case file to the AGF’s office.

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Mr. Oyedepo applied for an adjournment to enable the AGF’s office to review the case file and decide on the next course of action, which was granted by the court.

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At the resumed proceedings on Tuesday, Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, announced his appearance for the Federal Government, stating that he had been briefed to handle the case and pleaded for an adjournment to interact with the proposed witnesses.

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The request was not opposed by counsel for the defendants, Mr. Shuaibu Arua, SAN, and the court subsequently deferred the commencement of the hearing until April 15 and 16.

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The DSS had arraigned Malami and his son before the court on February 3, and the former Justice Minister was accused of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files had been brought to his office as AGF.

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In counts two to five of the charge, both Malami and his son were jointly accused of unlawful possession of firearms, offences punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.

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According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami and Abdulaziz were accused of storing firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

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The defendants were granted bail in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties each in like sum, but they remain in prison custody due to a separate money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).