Court approves N200m bail for Malami, son over terrorism, firearms charges

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of N200 million each to former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz, who are facing trial over alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.

The duo is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Delivering her ruling on Friday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered that both defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until they fulfill the bail conditions set by the court.

The judge made the pronouncement while deciding on the bail applications filed on their behalf by lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN.

As part of the conditions, the court directed Malami and his son to produce two sureties each. One of the sureties must own landed property located in either Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja.

Justice Abdulmalik further instructed that the title documents of the property be submitted to the deputy chief registrar of the court, alongside valid international passports.

The sureties are also required to depose to affidavits of means and provide two recent passport photographs.

In addition, both defendants were ordered to deposit their international passports and recent passport photographs with the court.

The case was adjourned to March 4 for the commencement of trial.

The DSS had arraigned the former AGF and his son on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.

According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the first count alleges that Malami, in November 2022 while serving at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Maitama, Abuja, knowingly facilitated terrorism financing by failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were submitted to his office. The offence is said to contravene Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The second count accuses both Malami and his son of preparing to commit an act of terrorism in December 2025 by allegedly possessing, without a licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 live Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges. This charge was brought under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Counts three to five relate to alleged unlawful possession of the firearm, live ammunition, and expended cartridges, said to be offences under Sections 3 and 8(1) of the Firearms Act 2004, punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act.