Nigerian authorities have withdrawn terrorism financing charges against former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami and his son, narrowing the case to allegations involving illegal possession of firearms.
Malami, who served as Attorney General under President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, is now facing a revised charge sheet that centers on weapons and ammunition reportedly found at his residence in Birnin Kebbi, in north-west Nigeria.
The 58-year-old former minister and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, both pleaded not guilty when the updated charges were presented in court on Wednesday.
Prosecutors from the Department of State Services (DSS), led by Akinlolu Kehinde, informed the court that the terrorism-related accusations had been formally dropped. Defence lawyer Shaibu Aruwa confirmed that his clients had received the amended charges and raised no objection to their reading in court.
Presiding judge Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that both defendants would continue on bail, set at 500 million naira each. They have also been ordered to surrender their travel documents to the court.
The case has been adjourned to May 26 for trial proceedings.
In a separate legal matter, Malami is also facing money laundering charges alongside his wife and son. He has consistently denied wrongdoing, describing the cases against him as politically motivated.
According to Malami, the legal actions are linked to his recent exit from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and his move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party positioning itself as a major opposition force.
The developments have sparked widespread public interest, given Malami’s prominent role in Nigeria’s previous administration.