The Federal Government has withdrawn the terrorism financing charge against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, replacing it with an amended charge of alleged illegal possession of arms and ammunition.
The prosecution team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde, informed the court that the new charge followed the discovery of arms and live cartridges at Malami’s residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Following the amendment, Malami and his son were re-arraigned and both pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge.
Defence counsel, Shuaibu Arua, did not oppose the withdrawal and substitution of the initial charge but urged the court to allow the defendants to retain their existing bail conditions. The request was not challenged by the prosecution.
Presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, ruled that the bail earlier granted on February 27 would remain in effect, including all conditions already fulfilled by the defendants.
The court subsequently adjourned the case, fixing May 26 and June 15 for trial proceedings.
Malami, who served as Attorney-General under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, was initially arraigned alongside his son by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The earlier charge accused him of allegedly abetting terrorism financing by failing to prosecute suspected financiers despite receiving case files in his official capacity.
Under the amended charge, the defendants are accused of unlawfully possessing firearms at their residence in Birnin Kebbi without legal authorization, contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
Both defendants had earlier been granted bail in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
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