he Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.

In the charge sheet filed before the court, the DSS accused Mr. Malami of knowingly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to him during his tenure as Attorney General.

Both defendants are also alleged to have stored firearms and ammunition at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

Count one accuses the former AGF of knowingly abetting terrorism financing. Counts two to five relate to the alleged unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen Redstar AAA 5’20 live cartridges, and twenty-seven expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, offences said to contravene relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.

Mr. Malami and Abdulaziz pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Following their plea, prosecuting counsel, Mr. Calistus Eze, urged the court to remand the defendants in DSS custody and fix a date for trial.

Defence counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Aruwan, SAN, made an oral application for bail, arguing that the defendants had already spent more than two weeks in DSS detention.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik rejected the oral application, noting that her court, being a court of record, required a formally filed bail application. She ordered the defendants remanded in DSS custody and adjourned proceedings until February 20 for the commencement of trial.

The charges read in part:

“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 financiers whose case files were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, adults, males, sometime in December 2025, at your residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, did, without licence, possess a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen live Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and twenty-seven expended cartridges, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.”