Former AGF Abubakar Malami arrainged in Federal High Court Abuja
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has formally taken over the prosecution of his immediate predecessor, Abubakar Malami, who is facing terrorism and illegal firearms possession charges.
The charges were originally filed by the Department of the State Service and are being heard at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The takeover was announced on Wednesday by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, who informed the court that the Attorney General had assumed responsibility for the case.
Addressing the court, Oyedepo told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that proceedings could not continue as scheduled because the new prosecution team required time to familiarise itself with the details of the matter.
Counsel to the defendants, Adedayo Adedeji, did not oppose the request for adjournment. However, he urged the court to strike out the case if the prosecution fails to open its case at the next hearing, citing a lack of diligent prosecution.
Following submissions from both parties, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to March 10 for trial and for the prosecution to formally open its case.
Meanwhile, the court had earlier, on February 27, granted Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, bail in the sum of ₦200 million, with two sureties. Each surety is required to own landed property in either Maitama or Asokoro.
The judge also ordered that the title documents of the properties be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, alongside valid international passports. The sureties were further directed to submit affidavits of means and provide two recent passport photographs.
In addition, Malami and his son were ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court as part of their bail conditions.
The case continues to attract public attention, given Malami’s former role as Nigeria’s chief law officer and the seriousness of the charges against him.
