The public holiday declared by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of Saturday’s area council elections has disrupted efforts by the Department of State Services to re-arraign former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge relating to terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The arraignment, slated for the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, February 20, was abruptly put off when it became clear that workers, including those of the court, would not be at work.
Operatives of the DSS had taken over security at the court as early as 7:00 am ahead of the arraignment.
However, by 9:00 am when Malami and his son were to be brought before Justice Peter Lifu, information filtered round that the workers would not be on duty.
The development prompted the DSS to shelve bringing the two defendants to the court.
Also Read: DSS takes in Malami on charges of terror financing
It will be recalled that Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and his son were earlier arraigned before a vacation judge on the same charge.
The vacation judge eventually returned the case file to the Chief Judge, Hon Justice John Tsoho for re-assignment to a regular judge.
Although the matter was re-assigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu for fresh arraignment, the judge declined to proceed with the matter for personal reasons.
Meanwhile, sources confirmed that the former AGF and his son would now be arraigned on Monday, February 23, 2026.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami is accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.
Malami and Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State without lawful authority.
Malami and Abdulaziz had during their earlier arraignment, pleaded not guilty when the counts in the charge sheet were read to them.
Counts in the charge read:
Count 1
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 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 2
Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II, Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your res:dence 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 5°20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 .
Count 3
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 Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.
Count 4
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 5’20 live rounds of cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.
Count 5
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 5’20 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.
