A significant legal development emerged in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to address national security threats as the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and his son Abdulaziz in the sum of N200 million each, following their arraignment on charges related to alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the ruling on their separate bail applications, emphasizing that the primary purpose of bail is to secure the defendants’ presence at trial. She stipulated that each must provide two sureties in like sum, with one surety required to own a developed landed property in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja, and deposit the title deed with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
The sureties are also mandated to depose to affidavits of means and submit two recent passport photographs. Additionally, Malami and his son were directed to deposit their passports and recent passport photographs with the court.
Pending the perfection of these bail conditions, the court ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre, with the matter adjourned to March 4 for the commencement of trial.
The Department of State Services arraigned Malami and Abdulaziz on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, conduct preparatory to terrorism, and unlawful possession of firearms. They pleaded not guilty to the charges at the last adjourned date.
During Friday’s proceedings, A.U. Igwe appeared for the prosecution, while J.B. Daudu (SAN) represented the defendants. Daudu informed the court that he had filed two identical bail applications on behalf of his clients and urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.
The prosecution, on its part, told the court that it had transmitted the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution and sought a date for trial.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the DSS accused Malami of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by allegedly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office while he served as AGF and Minister of Justice in November 2022.
The security agency further alleged that in December 2025, Malami and his son engaged in conduct preparatory to terrorism by unlawfully possessing a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA live rounds of cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
According to the prosecution, the offences contravene provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Firearms Act, 2004.
Related news includes a court voiding Malami’s bail in a separate money laundering case and ordering his remand in Kuje facility, the federal government’s approval of N21.6 billion for a new NAMA headquarters in Abuja, and the FCT remaining a PDP stronghold as stated by Olawepo-Hashim.
This case against Malami unfolds against a backdrop of his extensive legal and political career, marked by both achievements and controversies. Born on April 17, 1967, in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Malami graduated with a law degree from Usmanu Danfodiyo University in 1991 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992. He later earned a master’s in public administration from the University of Maiduguri in 1994. His early career included roles as state counsel and magistrate in Kebbi State, before establishing his private practice. Elevated to Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2008, he became involved in politics, serving as national legal adviser to the Congress for Progressive Change and contributing to the formation of the All Progressives Congress.
Appointed AGF in November 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari, Malami was the youngest minister in the cabinet at age 48 and was reappointed in 2019, serving until May 2023. His tenure involved overseeing anti-corruption prosecutions, legal reforms, and high-profile cases, but it was also plagued by allegations of misconduct, including attempts to strip his SAN rank for professional lapses, involvement in controversial asset sales, and accusations of diverting recovered funds. Notable controversies included the 2017 reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, a fugitive pension official, and 2021 claims of misappropriating recovered assets. More recently, Malami faced money laundering charges totaling N8.7 billion, with assets linked to illicit activities during his time in office.
The charges invoke the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which repealed the 2011 Act and its 2013 amendment to provide a unified framework for detecting, preventing, and punishing terrorism and its financing. Enacted on May 12, 2022, it defines acts of terrorism broadly, including those furthering ideological aims that cause harm or disrupt essential services. Key provisions criminalize abetting terrorism financing, with penalties up to death if fatalities result, and establish the Nigeria Sanctions Committee to designate and freeze assets of suspected entities. The Act aligns with UN Security Council resolutions on disrupting proliferation financing and mandates immediate freezing of assets tied to designated persons. It also created the National Counter Terrorism Centre for coordination.
Nigeria’s struggle with terrorism financing dates back to the rise of groups like Boko Haram in the early 2000s, which evolved from local unrest in the northeast to a full insurgency by 2009. Funding sources have included kidnapping for ransom, extortion, illegal mining, cattle rustling, and foreign donations, often facilitated through informal cash economies and hawala systems. The 2011 Act was Nigeria’s first dedicated anti-terrorism law, prompted by the 2011 UN bombing in Abuja, but gaps in addressing financing led to the 2022 overhaul. Regional studies highlight typologies like trade-based laundering and NGO misuse in West Africa, with Nigeria’s informal sector exacerbating vulnerabilities. The 2022 National Inherent Risk Assessment identified high risks from cash transactions and barter in conflict zones.
The firearms allegations reference the Firearms Act, 2004, which regulates possession and prohibits unlicensed ownership, with strict penalties for violations. It requires licenses for possession, barring those under 18, of unsound mind, or with criminal records, and controls ammunition types. Enacted to curb proliferation amid rising insecurity, the Act has faced calls for amendments to impose stricter fines and prison terms.
This prosecution aligns with a pattern of legal actions against former officials, reflecting Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive. Recent cases include the UK trial of former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke on bribery charges involving luxury goods and properties from 2011-2015. In the US, ex-NNPC official Paulinus Okoronkwo was sentenced to 87 months for a $2.1 million bribe in 2015 oil deals. Domestically, former NRC managing director Fidet Okhiria faced fraud charges over N165 million, while aviation minister Hadi Sirika was probed for corruption.
