Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court has granted bail in the sum of ₦200 million each to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz, over charges bordering on alleged terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The duo, however, were ordered to remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.
In a ruling on their bail applications argued by their lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), Justice Abdulmalik directed that each defendant must provide two sureties. One of the sureties must own landed property in either Maitama or Asokoro, high-profile districts within the Federal Capital Territory. The property titles are to be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
The court further ordered the sureties to depose to affidavits of means and submit two recent passport photographs. Malami and his son were also directed to surrender their international passports and provide recent passport photographs to the court.
The judge fixed March 4 for the commencement of trial.
The charges were brought by the Department of State Services (DSS), which arraigned the defendants on a five-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism-related offences and illegal firearms possession.
In the first count, the DSS accused Malami of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by allegedly refusing to prosecute certain suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to him during his tenure as AGF and Minister of Justice.
Counts two to five charge Malami and his son with unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live cartridges, and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges.
The offences are said to contravene relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
The high-profile case is set to proceed as the court begins trial in March.
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