It was high drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday as former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, were granted a staggering N400 million bail — only to be marched back to Kuje Prison pending the fulfilment of tough conditions.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the embattled ex-AGF and his son to N200 million bail each after heated arguments by their lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN). But freedom will not come easy.
The court ordered the duo to produce two sureties each — and not just any sureties. One must own landed property in Abuja’s elite Maitama or Asokoro districts. The original title documents must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court. They are to submit their valid international passports, affidavits of means, and recent passport photographs.
Until every condition is perfected, father and son remain behind bars at Kuje.
The situation stems from a five-count charge slammed against them by the Department of State Services (DSS), bordering on terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, prosecutors accuse Malami of knowingly abetting terrorism financing during his time as AGF by allegedly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office in November 2022 at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja.
But that’s not all.
Both Malami and his son are accused of stockpiling weapons at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA of Kebbi State. According to the DSS, the pair allegedly kept a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 live Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges — all without lawful licence.
Prosecutors claim the alleged possession amounted to conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism, contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
Count one singles out Malami for allegedly “knowingly abetting terrorism financing” by failing to act on case files handed to him while serving as the nation’s chief law officer.
The remaining counts jointly accuse father and son of unlawful possession of the firearm and ammunition.
As the courtroom buzzed with tension, Justice Abdulmalik fixed March 4 for the commencement of trial — setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most sensational legal battles in recent times.
For now, however, the once-powerful former AGF and his son return to the stark confines of Kuje Prison — their fate hanging on whether they can meet the court’s steep and exacting bail terms.
