ABUJA — The Department of State Services (DSS) has formally arraigned the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), a key loyalist in the Muhammadu Buhari administration, alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, on a five-count charge of terrorism financing and illegal possession of military-grade firearms.
The duo appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The arraignment follows months of speculation regarding Malami’s role in the previous government’s handling of national security dossiers.
The ‘Fulani Financiers’ Allegation
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, the prosecution alleged that Malami, while serving as the chief law officer under President Buhari, intentionally stalled the prosecution of high-profile terrorism financiers.
The charge sheet alleges that Malami knowingly abetted terrorism by refusing to act on case files involving suspected Fulani banditry financiers and other terror-linked individuals that were forwarded to his office for legal action. Critics have long accused the Buhari-era Ministry of Justice of “protecting” certain interests, an allegation this trial now seeks to test legally.
Arms and Ammunition Discovery
Beyond the financing allegations, Malami and his son face grave charges regarding an illegal armory reportedly discovered at their Birnin Kebbi residence. The DSS listed the following items in the charge:
- One Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm (possessed without a valid license).
- Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges.
- Twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA cartridges.
The DSS contends that the possession of these items constituted “conduct in preparation to commit an act of terrorism” under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Court Rejects Oral Bail, Orders Remand
Following a “not guilty” plea from both defendants, lead defense counsel Shuaibu Aruwan (SAN) argued for their release, noting they had already spent over two weeks in DSS custody.
However, Justice Abdulmalik insisted on a formal application, stating, “This is a court of record.” The judge subsequently ordered that the former AGF and his son be remanded in the custody of the DSS until the next hearing.
The case has been adjourned to February 20, 2026, for a hearing on the bail application. This development marks a dramatic fall from grace for one of the most powerful figures of the Buhari presidency, who is also currently facing a separate ₦8.7 billion money laundering trial.
