Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday fixed March 10 for the Department of State Services (DSS) to open its case of alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms against a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami.
The DSS had, on February 27, arraigned Mr Malami and his son before the court on the alleged offences. During that hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, granted the former AGF and his son bail and adjourned the matter until today (Wednesday).
When the matter came up, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that his office had recently taken over the case from the DSS and required time to familiarise itself with the facts.
He also said the request to strike out the case by counsel to the Malamis was premature and urged the judge to ignore it.
After taking arguments, Justice Abdulmalik fixed March 10 for the DPP to open the trial.
The court had on February 27 granted Mr Malami and his son N200 million bail each, with two sureties per defendant. The sureties were required to own landed property in either Maitama or Asokoro districts in Abuja.
Justice Abdulmalik ordered that the titles of the properties be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, along with valid international passports.
The sureties were also required to depose to an affidavit of means and submit two recent passport photographs to the court.
Mr Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.
The DSS had arraigned the former AGF and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.
In the charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Mr Malami is also accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.
The duo are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.
RN
