The Federal Government has withdrawn the terrorism financing charge previously filed against the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz Malami.
However, both men were re-arraigned on a fresh charge relating to alleged illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
At the hearing in Abuja, government counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) informed the court that the prosecution was substituting the earlier charge with an amended one focused on arms possession allegations.
He told the court that firearms and live cartridges were allegedly discovered at Malami’s residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Following the amendment, Malami and his son both pleaded not guilty to the new five-count charge.
Their defence counsel, Shuaibu Arua (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal of the initial terrorism financing allegation or the substitution of the charge.
He, however, urged the court to allow the existing bail terms to remain in place.
The prosecution did not object to that request.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the earlier bail granted on February 27 remains valid, along with all conditions already met by the defendants.
The case was then adjourned to May 26 and June 15 for trial.
Malami and his son were first arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on February 3.
They were initially accused of aiding terrorism financing by allegedly failing to act on case files involving suspected terrorism financiers during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General.
They were also accused of unlawfully keeping firearms at a residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi, without legal authorization an offence under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
Both men had earlier been granted bail in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
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