Court adjourns Malami, son’s terrorism trial

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned until March 10 for the prosecution to open its case against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.

The Department of State Services, DSS, had on February 27 arraigned Malami and his son on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism-related offences and illegal firearms possession.

At the previous sitting, the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, granted both defendants bail and adjourned the matter to March 4.

When the case was called on Wednesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that his office had recently taken over the prosecution from the DSS and required time to familiarise itself with the facts.

The DPP opposed the request by counsel to the Malamis seeking to strike out the case, describing it as premature and urging the court to dismiss the application.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Abdulmalik fixed March 10 for the prosecution to formally open its case.