Alleged terrorism: Court schedules May 26 for DSS to open case against Malami, son

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled May 26 for the Department of State Services to open its case in the alleged terrorism trial involving former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the DSS is prosecuting both defendants on charges related to terrorism before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, informed the court that an amended five-count charge had been filed to replace the earlier charge on which the defendants were initially arraigned.

Kehinde applied to withdraw the earlier charge and requested the amended one be read to the defendant for the pleas to be taken afresh.

The lawyer to the defendants, Shaibu Aruwa, SAN, confirmed that his clients were served with the amended charge and agreed that the fresh charge be read to the defendants.

Malami and his son are alleged to have, in December 2025, connived to commit acts of terrorism.

They were accused of having in their possession and without licence a Sturm Magnum 17–0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar.

When the charge was read out to Malami and his son, both pleaded not guilty, following which Kehinde sought a date for the commencement of trial.

Aruwa did not object to a date for trial but prayed the court to allow the defendants to remain on the bail earlier granted them by the court, whose conditions they had met.

With Kehinde not opposing Aruwa’s oral application, Justice Abdulmalik held that the defendants should continue on the bail earlier granted them on Feb. 27, whose conditions they had met.

The judge then adjourned the matter until May 26 and June 15 for trial.

In count one of the amended charge, Malami and Abdulaziz were alleged to have, sometime in December 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi, engaged in preparation to commit acts of terrorism.

They were alleged to have possessed, without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen (16) live rounds of Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges and twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar rounds.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The prosecution accused them of possessing sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges without a licence contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, among others. (NAN)

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