By Achile Danjuma
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Abubakar Malami, a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, setting the bond at N200 million each. The two are facing charges related to alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
Presiding Judge Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the ruling on Friday, outlining stringent conditions for their release. In addition to the substantial bond, each defendant is required to produce two sureties of an equivalent value.
The court further stipulated that one of the sureties must provide the title deed of a developed property located in Abuja’s upscale districts of Asokoro or Maitama. The defendants were also ordered to deposit their international passports with the court as part of the bail conditions.
Malami and his son were arraigned on February 3 on a five-count charge brought by the Department of State Services (DSS). Both pleaded not guilty to all counts.
According to the charge sheet, the former AGF is accused of knowingly abetting terrorism financing. The DSS alleges that Malami, during his tenure as the nation’s chief law officer, failed to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files had been forwarded to his office for action. This inaction, the prosecution contends, contravenes Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In a separate count, the DSS alleges that both Malami and his son were found in illegal possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 live rounds of Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges.
The items were reportedly discovered during a search of their residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state. The prosecution argued that the possession of these items without a licence amounts to preparation to commit an act of terrorism, an offence under Section 29 of the same anti-terrorism act.
During the court session, the prosecution’s counsel, A.U. Igwe, informed the court that the case file had been transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution for further handling.
Following the bail ruling, the judge adjourned the substantive hearing to March 4.