DSS Arraigns Ex-AGF Malami, Son Over Terrorism Financing, Illegal Firearms Possession

Abuja, Nigeria– The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, aiding and abetting terrorism, and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, where the DSS accused the former chief law officer of the federation of deliberately shielding terrorism financiers from prosecution while in office.

According to the charge, Malami alone was listed under Count One, which accused him of  knowingly abetting terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office during his tenure as Attorney General of the Federation.

The charge alleged that the refusal to act on the files amounted to active complicity and support for terrorism financing, an offence said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Malami and his son were jointly charged in Counts Two to Five, which relate to the alleged illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, an offence also linked to preparations to commit acts of terrorism.

Court documents stated that sometime in December 2025, the former AGF and his son were found to be in possession of 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, without lawful licence.

The DSS further alleged that the firearms and ammunition were recovered from their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of the court.

The prosecution maintained that the possession of the firearm and ammunition constituted conduct in preparation to commit acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as violations of relevant provisions of the Firearms Act, 2004.

When the five-count charge was read to the defendants in open court, both Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Following their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Dr. C. S. Eze, urged the court to remand both defendants in the custody of the DSS pending the commencement of trial, citing the gravity of the offences and the security implications of the allegations.

In response, the lead defence counsel, S. A. Alua, SAN, made an oral application for bail on behalf of the defendants, arguing that they were entitled to bail and were willing to meet any conditions imposed by the court.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, ruled that the Federal High Court is a court of record and, as such, could only entertain a formal written application for bail, not an oral request.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to February 20 for hearing on the bail application and possible commencement of trial.

The counts read, “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.

“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 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 .

“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.

“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 FIVE

“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.”