A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the trial of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, until February 27.
The case, instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS), was adjourned on Friday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik following a public holiday declared by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the Abuja council election scheduled for Saturday.
At the court premises, only a few staff members were seen, while no lawyers or litigants, including the defendants, were present. It was gathered that some legal practitioners and litigants who arrived at the court were turned back due to the work-free day declared by the minister.
The DSS had on February 3 arraigned Malami and his son on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal possession of firearms.
In the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami is accused of allegedly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were reportedly handed to him during his tenure as AGF and Minister of Justice.
The father and son are also accused of unlawfully warehousing firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecuting counsel, Calistus Eze, urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the DSS and to fix a date for trial.
However, defence counsel Shuaibu Aruwan made an oral application for bail, arguing that his clients had already spent over two weeks in DSS custody.
Justice Abdulmalik rejected the oral bail request, stating that the court, being a court of record, required a formal written bail application. She subsequently ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody.
The matter had earlier been adjourned to February 20 for commencement of trial before the latest adjournment to February 27.
