FORMER Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged illegal possession of firearms filed against them by the Federal Government.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) had earlier, on February 3, 2026, arraigned the defendants on a five-count charge involving allegations of terrorism financing, aiding terrorism, and illegal possession of firearms.
Malami was also accused of failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers during his time in office, in addition to allegations of unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm and ammunition.
Both defendants had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail by the court.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, however, prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, informed the court of an amended charge dated April 14, 2026, which he said had been duly served on the defendants.
Kehinde urged the court to substitute the earlier charge dated February 2, 2026, with the amended charge to enable the defendants take a fresh plea.
In response, defence counsel, Shaibu Arua, confirmed receipt of the amended charge.
Consequently, the trial judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, struck out the earlier charge and discharged the defendants in respect of it.
The court then ordered that the amended five-count charge be read to the defendants.
In the amended charge, the defendants were accused of preparing to engage in acts of terrorism by allegedly possessing firearms without a licence. The items listed include a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges.
The offences are said to be contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as the Firearms Act, Cap F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
After the amended charge was read, both defendants again pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Following their plea, the prosecution urged the court to fix a date for trial.
However, the defence counsel applied that the defendants be allowed to continue on the bail earlier granted to them.
The prosecution did not oppose the request.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik granted the application and fixed May 26 and June 16, 2026, for trial.
The amended charge reads in part:
“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, sometime in December 2025 at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in preparation to commit acts of terrorism by having in your possession and without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17–0101 firearm, sixteen Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges and twenty-seven expended Redstar cartridges, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you both conspired to commit acts of terrorism by possessing without licence the said firearm and ammunition, contrary to Section 26 (1) of the Act and punishable under Section 26 (3) (a) and (b).
“That you were in unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17–0101 firearm without licence, contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i).
“That you were in possession of sixteen Redstar AAA 5’20 live cartridges without licence, contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act.
“That you were in possession of twenty-seven expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges without licence, also contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act.”