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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday admitted a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, to N200m bail each over alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a ruling on their separate bail applications, held that the essence of bail was to ensure that defendants attend trial.
She consequently granted them bail in the sum of N200m each with two sureties in like sum.
The judge ordered that one of the sureties must own a developed landed property in Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, and deposit the title deed with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
The sureties are also to depose to affidavits of means and submit two recent passport photographs.
Malami and his son were further directed to deposit their passports and recent passport photographs with the court.
The court, however, ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of their bail conditions and adjourned the matter till March 4 for commencement of trial.
The Department of State Services had arraigned Malami and Abdulaziz on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, conduct preparatory to terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges at the last adjourned date.
At Friday’s proceedings, A.U. Igwe appeared for the prosecution, while J.B. Daudu (SAN) represented the defendants.
Daudu informed the court that he had filed two identical bail applications on behalf of his clients and urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.
The prosecution, on its part, told the court that it had transmitted the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution and sought a date for trial.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the DSS accused Malami of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by allegedly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office while he served as AGF and Minister of Justice in November 2022.
The security agency further alleged that in December 2025, Malami and his son engaged in conduct preparatory to terrorism by unlawfully possessing a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended cartridges at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
According to the prosecution, the offences contravene provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Firearms Act, 2004.
