Court Remands Ex-AGF Malami and His Son Abdulaziz in DSS custody

Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) and his son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, were on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, arraigned before Justice
Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for abetting and financing terrorism.

The judge ordered the two defendants to be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) as the lawyers on the matter agreed and persuaded the judge to fix 20th February for their trial.

Justice Abdulmalik declined the request of Shuaibu Arua, SAN, the defendants’ counsel, to make an oral bail application. She said it is a court of record; therefore, a formal bail application must be served on the prosecution.

Malami and his son Abdulaziz were accused in a five-count charge marked FHC/ABG/CR/63/2026 of abetting terrorism financing in the country and unlawful possession of arms and ammunition.

The two defendants pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge when it was read out to them in court.

In view of the not guilty plea of Malami and his son, the prosecution counsel, Calistus Eze, prayed the court for a date to commence trial in the matter and that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending further proceedings in the matter.

Counsel to the defendants, Shuaibu Arua, SAN, in his submission, sought the leave of the court to make an oral application for the bail of the defendants.

He told the court that the defendants have been in the custody of the DSS for over two weeks and were brought to court directly from the hospital.

In a short ruling, the trial judge said the Federal High Court is a court of records and ordered the counsel to the first and second defendants to file a formal bail application for the defendants.

Justice Abdulmalik then adjourned the matter till February 20 for commencement of trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS.

Count one reads, “That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adult, male, sometime in November, 2022, at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financers whose case files 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 the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

They were accused in count two of
engaging in conduct in preparation to commit an act of terrorism by having in their possession, without a licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5.20 live rounds of cartridges, and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5.20 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the 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 the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

Four of them, with 16 Redstar AAA 5°20 and five rounds of cartridges without a licence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act.

Count five reads, “That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase 11 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 27 expended Redstar AAA 5°20 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act.”