By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed May 26 for the Department of State Services (DSS) to open its case of alleged terrorism against the immediate-past Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN, and his son, Abdulaziz.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DSS is prosecuting Malami and his son on allegations bordering on terrorism offences before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

At the resumed hearing, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, who appeared for the prosecution (DSS), told the court that an amended five-count charge had been filed to replace an earlier one on which they had been arraigned.

Kehinde applied to withdraw the earlier charge and requested the amended one be read to the defendant for the pleas to be taken afresh.

Lawyer to the defendants, Shaibu Aruwa, SAN, confirmed that his clients were served with the amended charge and agreed that the fresh charge be read to the defendants.

Malami and his son are alleged to have in December 2025, connived to commit acts of terrorism.

The were accused of having in their possession and without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm, a 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar.

When the charge was read out to Malami and his son, both pleaded not guilty, following which Kehinde sought a date for the commencement of trial.

Aruwa did not object to a date for trial, but prayed the court to allow the defendants remain on the bail earlier granted them by the court, which conditions they had met.

With Kehinde not opposing Aruwa’s oral application, Justice Abdulmalik held that the defendants should continue on the bail earlier granted them on Feb. 27 which conditions they had met.

The judge then adjourned the matter until May 26 and June 15 for trial.

In count one of the amended charge, Malami and Abdulaziz were alleged to have, sometime in December 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi, engaged in preparation to commit acts of terrorism.

They were alleged to have possessed and without license, a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The prosecution accused them of possessing Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges without a license contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, among others. (NAN)

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