Former Attorney-General Malami and son plead not guilty to amended firearms charges
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, have pleaded not guilty to a five-count amended charge related to alleged illegal possession of firearms. The Federal Government filed the charges, which accuse them of preparing to engage in acts of terrorism by possessing a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges without a license. These alleged offenses are contrary to provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, Cap F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The Department of State Services initially arraigned them on February 3, 2026, on charges including terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms. The defendants had previously pleaded not guilty and were granted bail. At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the prosecution presented an amended charge. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the earlier charge and ordered the defendants to take a fresh plea on the amended counts. Following their not-guilty plea, the court granted the defense's request for the defendants to continue on their existing bail. The trial is scheduled for May 26 and June 16, 2026.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadSpain secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final by defeating France 2-0 in Tuesday's semi-final match in Arlington, Texas. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal. Pedro Porro then doubled Spain's lead in the 58th minute following a play orchestrated by Dani Olmo. This marks Oyarzabal's fifth goal of the tournament. France, aiming for a third consecutive World Cup final appearance, struggled against Spain's defense. A post-match report from FIFA stated that Spain "outplayed France," limiting their chances and scoring through Oyarzabal and Porro. Spain will now face the winner of the second semi-final between England and Argentina in Sunday's final. France will compete for the bronze medal on Saturday.
Must ReadThe Oyo State House of Assembly has reiterated its support for Governor Seyi Makinde's request for an independent international investigation into the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area. The House believes an international probe is essential to establish facts, strengthen Nigeria's security, and prevent future attacks on schools. This stance comes after Governor Makinde, following the rescue of the victims, called on the United Nations and International Human Rights Organizations for an investigation, citing the gravity and unusual circumstances of the incident. The Assembly also addressed the Senate's caution against such a probe, clarifying that Governor Makinde's call is a patriotic appeal for transparency, accountability, and international collaboration against terrorism and mass school abductions, not an indictment of the Federal Government or security agencies. The House emphasized that commending security efforts and seeking a transparent review are not mutually exclusive, especially as terrorism and school attacks have transnational dimensions. They concluded that Makinde's proposal aims to understand lessons from the Oriire abduction and translate them into stronger security measures, complementing efforts to improve security agencies' welfare and equipment.
Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, has issued a warning against what he perceives as attempts to undermine the opposition party through judicial manipulation and the misuse of state institutions. In a statement on Tuesday, George condemned recent developments surrounding the PDP's leadership crisis, suggesting that certain forces are working to destabilize the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. He referenced a Supreme Court judgment from April 30 that nullified a PDP national convention, leading to a reconstituted Interim National Working Committee that operates alongside another faction recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. George criticized the projection of an individual with no known democratic pedigree as National Chairman, stating that leadership is earned through sacrifice and democratic legitimacy, not political manipulation. He urged the judiciary and INEC to uphold the Constitution and remain impartial, emphasizing that institutions must not determine political party leadership. George cautioned that misusing political power and suppressing opposition is dangerous for national stability and that governments should not weaken democratic institutions. He called on the judiciary to remain faithful to the Constitution, INEC to act without bias, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure government institutions remain above partisan interests.