DSS arraigns Malami and his son on terrorism financing and firearms possession

The Department of State Services has arraigned a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulazeez Malami, on five counts bordering on terrorism financing, aiding and abetting terrorism, and unlawful possession of firearms.

Malami and his son were brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Under Count One, the former Attorney-General was charged with “knowingly abetting terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecution.”

Both defendants were jointly charged under Counts Two to Five for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. They pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following the arraignment, the prosecuting counsel, Dr C. S. Eze, applied to the court for an order remanding the defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services pending the commencement of trial.

In response, lead defence counsel, S. A. Alua, SAN, made an oral application for bail on behalf of the defendants.

Justice Abdulmalik declined to hear the application, stating that “the court is a court of record” and could only entertain a written application for bail.

The matter was adjourned to February 20 for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial.

The charges under Counts Two to Five allege that the former AGF and his son unlawfully possessed a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds, and twenty-seven expended Redstar AAA 5720 cartridges, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II 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 terrorism financiers whose casefiles 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 the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Another count states: “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, 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 5720 live rounds of cartridges and twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5720 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Another count reads: “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 the Firearms Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”

A further count states: “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 5720 live rounds of cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”

Count Five adds: “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 twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5720 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”