The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has assumed control of the prosecution of his immediate predecessor, Abubakar Malami, who is facing terrorism and illegal firearms possession charges.
Malami was arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS), which initially handled the prosecution before the Attorney General formally took over the case on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that the Attorney General had taken over proceedings and required additional time to study the case file and familiarise himself with the facts.
He told the presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, that the trial could not proceed immediately due to the change in prosecution.
Counsel to the defendants, Adedayo Adedeji, did not oppose the request but urged the court to strike out the case if the prosecution fails to open its case at the next adjourned date, citing concerns over diligent prosecution.
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Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 10 for trial and for the prosecution to formally open its case.
Earlier, on February 27, the court granted Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, bail in the sum of ₦200 million each, with two sureties required to own landed property in either Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja.
The court ordered that property titles be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar alongside valid international passports, affidavits of means, and recent passport photographs.
The DSS had arraigned Malami and his son on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the former AGF is accused of failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers while in office and of allegedly aiding terrorism financing.
Both defendants are also accused of unlawfully storing firearms and ammunition at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, Kebbi State, contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.