The trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz, over alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms has suffered another delay following the assignment of a new prosecutor to the case.
The defendants were present at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday when the matter came up before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
However, proceedings were adjourned until April 15 and 16 after the prosecution counsel requested time to familiarize himself with the case file.
Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), who recently took over the prosecution, informed the court that he received instructions to assume conduct of the case only on Monday.
"I got the instruction to take over the prosecution of the case on Monday, and so I need time to interface with the witnesses," Kehinde explained, urging the court to grant a new hearing date.
Counsel for the defendants, Shuaibu Arua (SAN), did not oppose the adjournment request. In a brief ruling, Justice Abdulmalik granted the application and adjourned the case until April 15 and 16 for trial.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had earlier arraigned Malami and his son on a five-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami is accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were allegedly forwarded to him during his tenure as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
The security agency also alleges that the defendants unlawfully kept firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
According to the charge sheet, Malami allegedly abetted terrorism financing by knowingly failing to prosecute individuals suspected of funding terrorist activities—an offence contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In counts two to five, Malami and Abdulaziz are accused of being in unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5'20 live cartridges, and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5'20 cartridges.
These offences are said to be punishable under relevant provisions of the Terrorism Act and the Firearms Act, 2004.
The DSS had, on March 4, transferred the case file to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for prosecution when the matter was earlier scheduled for the commencement of trial.
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