FG Drops Terrorism Financing Count in Revised Charge Against Malami

FG Drops Terrorism Financing Count in Revised Charge Against Malami

The Federal Government has amended the charges against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, removing the allegation of terrorism financing from the case.

At proceedings on Wednesday, counsel to the Department of State Services, Akinlolu Kehinde, informed the court of the development and sought leave to substitute the earlier charge with an amended one.

The revised charge now centres on alleged illegal possession of firearms.

Counsel to the defendants, Shaibu Aruwa, told the court that the amended charge had been served on his clients and raised no objection to it being read.

Following this, the fresh charge was read to both defendants, who pleaded not guilty.

The presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, ordered that the defendants should continue on the bail earlier granted to them.

The case was subsequently adjourned to May 26 and June 15 for trial.

According to the amended charge, the prosecution alleged that arms and live cartridges were recovered from Malami’s residence in Birnin Kebbi.

Malami and his son were initially arraigned on February 3 on a five-count charge that included allegations of terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.

The DSS had earlier accused the former AGF of failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers despite receiving case files while in office.

On February 27, the court granted bail to both defendants in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties in like amount.