The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has officially taken over the prosecution of his predecessor, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, in a high-profile terrorism and illegal firearms case at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The handover, announced by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, was necessitated by the recent transfer of the case from the Department of State Services (DSS) to the Ministry of Justice. Oyedepo told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the prosecution required additional time to familiarise itself with the facts of the case.
Counsel to the defendants, Adedayo Adedeji, did not oppose the adjournment but urged the court to strike out the matter if the prosecution failed to open its case on the next adjourned date, citing lack of diligent prosecution.
The New Diplomat had reported that the court subsequently adjourned the trial to March 10, 2026, directing the prosecution to formally commence its case on that date.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, revolves around allegations that Malami, while serving as Attorney-General, refused to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were submitted to his office. The DSS also alleges that Malami and his son illegally possessed firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The five-count charge accuses Malami of knowingly abetting terrorism financing and unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, along with 16 live rounds and 27 expended Redstar AAA cartridges, in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
Details from the charge sheet allege that Malami, in November 2022 at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, refused to prosecute terrorism financiers, thereby committing an offence under Section 26(2) of the Terrorism Act. Counts two to five accuse both Malami and his son of possessing firearms and ammunition without a licence in December 2025 at their Kebbi residence, constituting offences under Sections 3, 8(1), 27(1), and 29 of the relevant Acts.
The court had previously granted Malami and his son N200 million bail with two sureties each, requiring ownership of landed property in Maitama or Asokoro, deposit of property titles with the Deputy Chief Registrar, valid international passports, affidavits of means, and recent passport photographs. The defendants were also ordered to submit their international passports and photographs to the court.
The case has attracted nationwide attention, not only because of Malami’s position as a former Attorney-General but also due to the serious nature of the charges, which involve allegations of terrorism financing and illegal firearms possession.
The trial’s next session will be on March 10 will mark the formal commencement of the prosecution under Fagbemi, whose appearance signals heightened government involvement and renewed focus on the matter
