Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday admitted former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz, to N200m bail each over alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
The court, however, ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
Ruling on separate bail applications moved by their counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), Justice Abdulmalik held that each of the defendants must produce two sureties in like sum.
The judge directed that one of the sureties must own landed property in Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, and deposit the title documents with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
The sureties were also ordered to submit valid international passports, depose to affidavits of means and file two recent passport photographs.
Malami and his son were equally directed to surrender their international passports and submit their recent passport photographs to the court.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case till March 4 for the commencement of trial.
The defendants were arraigned by the Department of State Services on a five-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
In count one, the DSS alleged that Malami, while serving as AGF and Minister of Justice, knowingly abetted terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute suspected financiers of terrorism whose case files were allegedly forwarded to him.
The prosecution further accused Malami and Abdulaziz of warehousing firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.
According to the charge, the defendants were found in possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, offences said to be contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Firearms Act, 2004.
