By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA— The Department of State Services, DSS, yesterday, arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, on a five-count charge of terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
Malami, who served as Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, was docked before the Federal High Court in Abuja, alongside his son, Abdulaziz.
The DSS, in count-one of the charge, accused the former AGF of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were brought to his office as the AGF, for prosecution.
Meanwhile, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges that were read to them before trial Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
While the prosecution counsel, Dr. C. Eze, prayed the court to remand both defendants in DSS custody pending the commencement of the trial, the defence counsel, Mr. S. Alua, SAN, made an oral application for their release on bail.
Justice Abdulmalik refused to oral request for bail, stressing that since the court operates on records, the defendant should file a written application.
She, subsequently, adjourned the case till February 20, for bail and commencement of trial. The court ordered that the defendants should remain in custody of the security agency.
One of the counts in the charge against the defendants, read: “That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adult, male, sometime in November 2022 at Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose casefiles were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecution, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 (2) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The post Alleged terror financing: DSS arraigns ex-AGF Malami, son on 5-count charge appeared first on Vanguard News.
