The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, in the sum of N200 million each over allegations of terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
Delivering her ruling on their separate bail applications, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the primary purpose of bail is to ensure that defendants are available to stand trial. She subsequently admitted both men to bail with two sureties each in like sum.
The court directed that one of the sureties must own a developed property in either Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, and deposit the title documents with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court. The sureties are also required to submit affidavits of means and provide two recent passport photographs.
In addition, Malami and his son were ordered to surrender their international passports and submit recent passport photographs to the court.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The case was adjourned until March 4 for the commencement of trial.
The charges were filed by the Department of State Services, which arraigned the former minister and his son on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, conduct preparatory to terrorism, and illegal possession of firearms. Both defendants pleaded not guilty at an earlier sitting.
At Friday’s proceedings, A.U. Igwe represented the prosecution, while J.B. Daudu (SAN) appeared for the defence. Daudu informed the court that he had filed identical bail applications for his clients and urged the judge to grant them bail on liberal terms. The prosecution, however, told the court that the case file had been forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution and requested a trial date.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the DSS accused Malami of allegedly aiding terrorism financing by failing to prosecute suspected financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office in November 2022 during his tenure as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
The agency further alleged that in December 2025, Malami and his son engaged in conduct preparatory to terrorism by unlawfully possessing a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA live cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges at their residence in Gesse Phase II area of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, Kebbi State.
The prosecution said the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
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