Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the trial of a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz, for alleged terrorism till March 10, 2026.
She fixed the date in response to a request by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), who told the court that the prosecution required more time to familiarise itself with the case file.
Oyedepo said the file was recently transferred from the Department of State Services (DSS) to the Department of Public Prosecutions.
“We ask your lordship for a very short date. If we have four days, it will be enough,” he said.
Counsel for the defendants, Adedayo Adedeji, did not oppose the application but urged the court to strike out the case if the prosecution fails to open its case on the next adjourned date, alleging lack of diligent prosecution.
Justice Abdulmalik then adjourned the matter to March 10 for trial and ordered the prosecution to formally open its case.
The DSS had arraigned Malami and his son on a six-count charge on terrorism-related offences.
In one of the counts, the Federal Government accused Malami, in November 2022, of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by allegedly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office, while he was Attorney-General of the Federation.
The offence is said to contravene Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In another count, Malami and his son were accused of conduct preparatory to an act of terrorism by possessing, without a licence, a Sturm Magnum firearm, 16 live cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges at their residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, in December 2025.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty of all of the charges.
