The Federal Government has withdrawn the terrorism financing charges filed against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, and replaced them with a new charge bordering on alleged unlawful possession of arms and ammunition.
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The prosecution team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court on Wednesday of its decision to amend the charges, stating that firearms and live cartridges were allegedly recovered from Malami’s residence in Birnin Kebbi.
Following the development, Malami and his son were re-arraigned and took fresh pleas, both denying the five-count amended charge.
Defence counsel, Shuaibu Arua (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal and substitution of the initial charges but urged the court to allow the defendants to continue on the bail earlier granted to them.
The prosecution did not object to the request, prompting Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to rule that the existing bail conditions granted on February 27 would remain in force.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to May 26 and June 15 for trial. The case was initially instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS), which arraigned Malami and his son on February 3 over allegations linked to terrorism financing.
In the amended charge, the defendants were accused of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition at their residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, without lawful authority.
Both defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
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