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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdul-aziz Malami, have pleaded not guilty to a five-count amended charge bordering on illegal possession of firearms brought against them by the Federal government.
On February 3, 2026, the Department of State Service (DSS), arraigned the defendants on five counts of alleged terrorism financing, aiding terrorism, and illegal firearms possession.
Malami was accused of failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers while in office, including illegal possession of a Strum Magnum 17-010101 firearm and ammunition.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges, including refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers and storing illegal weapons and were granted bail by the court.
However, when the trial resumed yesterday, the prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court of an amended charge against the defendants dated April 14, 2026, which had already been served on them.
Kehinde therefore urged the court to substitute the previous charge dated February 2 with the amended charge dated April 14, 2026, for the defendants to take their plea.
In his response, counsel to the defendants, Shaibu Arua, SAN, confirmed service of the new charge on his clients.
Consequently, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the previous charge and discharged the defendants thereon accordingly.
The Judge then ordered that the amended five-count charge be read for the defendants to take their plea.
In the amended charge, the defendants were accused of alleged offences bordering on preparation to engage in acts of terrorism by having in their possession of firearms without licence, a Sturm Mangum 17- 0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges, and 27 expended Redstar.
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They were alleged to have committed an offence contrary to and punishable under some sections of the Terrorism (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
After the charge was read out to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
Kehinde, therefore, asked the court to fix a date for the trial of the defendants.
However, the defence counsel, Shaibu Arua, SAN, prayed the court to allow the defendants to remain on the bail earlier granted them on the previous charge.
In his response, the prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, did not oppose the request by the defence counsel.
Consequently, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in her ruling, granted the request and further fixed the trial for May 26 and June 16, 2026.
The amended charge against them reads: “That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in preparation to commit acts of terrorism by having in your possession and without license, a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves in preparation to commit acts of terrorism by having in your possession and without a license a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar, contrary to Section 26 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition Act) 2022 and punishable under Section 26 (3) (a) and (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition Act) 2022.
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without a license, did have in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without a license, did have in your possession Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without a license, did have in your possession Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
