The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday postponed the trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms until April 15 and 16.
Both defendants were present in court when the case came up before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
During the proceedings, counsel for the prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde, informed the court that although the matter was listed for hearing, he had only recently been assigned to handle the prosecution.
Kehinde explained that he received instructions to take over the case on Monday and required additional time to meet with the witnesses involved.
“I got the instruction to take over the prosecution of the case on Monday and so I need time to interface with the witnesses,” he said, requesting the court to fix another date for the hearing.
Counsel to the defendants, Shuaibu Arua, did not object to the request for an adjournment.
In a short ruling, Justice Abdulmalik approved the application and adjourned the matter until April 15 and 16 for trial.
The Department of State Services had earlier arraigned Malami and his son on a five-count charge related to alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026 and filed before the court in Abuja, Malami was accused of failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were reportedly submitted to him while he served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The security agency also alleged that the defendants kept firearms illegally at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
According to the DSS, Malami in count one allegedly aided terrorism financing by knowingly failing to prosecute individuals suspected of funding terrorist activities.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In counts two to five, Malami and Abdulaziz were accused of unlawfully possessing a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges.
The offences are said to be punishable under provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Firearms Act, 2004.
Earlier, on March 4, the DSS transferred the case file to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for prosecution when the matter first came up for the commencement of trial.
