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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Ex-AGF Malami, son plead not guilty to amended charge

From The Punch · (1d ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and his son pleaded not guilty to an amended charge of illegal possession of firearms.
  • The Federal Government filed the amended charge, replacing an earlier one related to terrorism financing.
  • The trial is scheduled to begin in May and June 2026, with the defendants granted bail.

The Federal Government has brought an amended charge against former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, who have pleaded not guilty to allegations of illegal possession of firearms. This development follows an earlier arraignment on charges including terrorism financing, a shift that underscores the complexities of the legal proceedings initiated by the Department of State Services.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the initial charge, allowing the defendants to enter a fresh plea on the amended five-count charge. The prosecution, led by Akinlolu Kehinde, presented the new charge, which details the alleged possession of a Sturm Magnum firearm and ammunition without a license. These accusations fall under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act.

The legal battle is set to continue, with the court scheduling trial dates for May 26 and June 16, 2026. The defense counsel, Shaibu Arua, successfully argued for the continuation of the bail previously granted to the Malami father and son. This case continues to draw attention, given Malami's prominent role as a former chief law officer of the federation.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.

— Court proceedingsFollowing the reading of the amended charge.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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