The Federal Government of Nigeria has appointed a new prosecutor to handle the ongoing trial of the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN. Malami who served from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari faces five counts relating to terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
The case involves Malami and his son Abdulaziz, who were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The Department of State Services transferred the prosecution to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation on March 4 to facilitate a more comprehensive review of the case. The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the AGF Prince Lateef bemi had decided to take over the case.
During proceedings on Tuesday, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, announced his appearance for the Federal Government as the newly assigned prosecutor. He requested an adjournment to interact with proposed witnesses and prepare the case. The request was not opposed by the defence counsel Shuaibu Arua, SAN, and the court consequently deferred the hearing to April 15 and 16.
The charges allege that Malami knowingly abetted terrorism financing by failing to prosecute known terrorism financiers while serving as AGF. Counts two through five accuse Malami and his son of unlawfully possessing firearms, storing them at their residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority, in violation of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and the Firearms Act 2004.
Both defendants had pleaded not guilty and were granted bail of N200 million each with two sureties in like sum. However, they remain in custody due to a separate money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
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