The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.

The defendants were brought before the court on Tuesday on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism-related offences and unlawful arms possession under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

According to the DSS, Malami allegedly aided terrorism financing during his tenure as AGF by deliberately refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office for legal action.

One of the charges alleges that in November 2022, at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Maitama, Abuja, Malami knowingly abetted terrorism financing by obstructing the prosecution of terror suspects, an offence punishable under Section 26(2) of the Act.

The secret police also accused Malami and his son of engaging in preparatory acts of terrorism through the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition at their residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

According to the prosecution, the defendants were found in possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 live Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges without a valid licence, contrary to Section 29 of the Terrorism Act.

Both Malami and Abdulaziz pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Following their plea, DSS counsel, Calistus Eze, urged the court to remand the defendants in DSS custody and to fix a date for the commencement of trial.

However, defence counsel, Shuaibu Aruwan, made an oral application for bail, arguing that the defendants had already spent more than two weeks in detention. The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, declined the oral request and directed the defence to file a formal bail application.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently ordered that both defendants be remanded in DSS custody and adjourned the case to February 20 for further hearing.

Malami was arrested on January 19 by DSS operatives at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, shortly after perfecting bail conditions in a separate money-laundering case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC had earlier arraigned Malami, his son, and his wife on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering involving ₦8.71 billion.

The anti-graft agency alleged that between 2015 and 2025, the defendants conspired to launder proceeds of unlawful activities through multiple bank accounts and corporate entities, allegedly concealing the source and ownership of more than ₦8.1 billion.