The Federal High Court in Abuja fixed May 26 for the Department of State Services to open its amended terrorism case against former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, SAN, and his son Abdulaziz. Prosecutor Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) told the bench that the DSS had filed a new charge to replace the earlier one, asked for the original charge to be withdrawn and requested that the revised charge be read to the defendants for fresh pleas. Defence counsel Shaibu Aruwa (SAN) confirmed that his clients had received the amended charge and agreed to its reading. Both Malami and his son entered not‑guilty pleas when the charge was read. The court permitted them to remain on bail granted on February 27 after Aruwa's oral application, and Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to May 26 with a further trial date set for June 15.
The amended indictment alleges that in December 2025, at Geeze Phase II, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, the pair possessed without licence a Sturm Magnum 17‑0101 firearm, sixteen Redstar AAA 5'20 live cartridges and twenty‑seven expended Redstar rounds. The charge cites violations of Sections 29, 26(1) and 26(3)(a) & (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, as well as Sections 3 and 8(1)(b)(ii) of the Firearms Act CAP F28 and the corresponding penalty provisions.
The DSS's decision to pursue a terrorism prosecution against a former Attorney General and his son marks an unusually high‑profile application of Nigeria's anti‑terrorism statutes.
The case hinges on alleged illegal possession of a Sturm Magnum 17‑0101 firearm and ammunition in Kebbi State, charges that invoke both the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Firearms Act. The prosecution's move to amend the charge and seek a fresh trial underscores a determined effort to secure a conviction despite the defendants' prior bail.
A conviction could send a clear signal to senior officials and their families that illicit arms ownership will be prosecuted rigorously, potentially reshaping how the elite approach personal security arrangements.
This filing follows a series of post‑2022 prosecutions that have broadened the scope of terrorism‑related offences, suggesting a sustained governmental push to tighten enforcement of weapons and security laws.
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