The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 26 for the Department of State Services (DSS) to open its case in the alleged terrorism trial of the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and his son, Abdulaziz.
When the matter came up, prosecution counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) told the court that an amended charge had been filed to replace the earlier one on which the defendants were initially arraigned.
He applied for the withdrawal of the earlier charge and requested that the amended version be read so the defendants could take fresh pleas.
Defence counsel Shaibu Aruwa (SAN) confirmed that his clients had been served and agreed that the new charge be read.
Malami and his son are alleged to have, in December 2025, prepared to commit acts of terrorism by having in their possession, without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges, and 27 expended Redstar.
When the amended charge was read, both defendants pleaded not guilty, after which the prosecution requested a trial date.
The defence did not object but urged the court to allow the defendants to remain on the bail earlier granted, noting that they had complied with all conditions.
With no opposition from the prosecution, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the defendants should continue on the existing bail granted on February 27.
The court then adjourned the matter to May 26 and June 15 for trial.
Counts in the amended charge state:
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in preparation to commit acts of terrorism by having in your possession and without license a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges, and twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves in preparation to commit acts of terrorism by having in your possession and without a licence a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges and twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar, contrary to Section 26 (1) and punishable under Section 26 (3) (a) and (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without a licence, did have in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act.”
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without a licence, did have in your possession sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act.”
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without a licence, did have in your possession twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act.”
