The work-free day declared by the Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ahead of Saturday’s area council elections has disrupted the Department of State Services (DSS) plan to re-arraign former Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge relating to terrorism and illegal firearms possession.
The arraignment, scheduled for Friday, the 20th of February, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, was abruptly postponed after it became clear that court workers would not be on duty due to the work-free directive.
DSS operatives had secured the court as early as 7:00 a.m. in anticipation of the proceedings. By 9:00 a.m., when Malami and his son were to appear before Justice Peter Lifu, it was confirmed that court personnel would be absent, prompting the DSS to shelve the arraignment.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and his son were previously arraigned before a vacation judge on the same charges. The vacation judge later returned the case file to Chief Judge Hon. Justice John Tsoho for reassignment to a regular judge. Although reassigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu for fresh arraignment, the judge declined to proceed for personal reasons.
Sources confirmed that the former AGF and his son are now expected to be arraigned on Monday, the 23rd of February, 2026.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami is accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were handed to him during his tenure as AGF and Minister of Justice. Both Malami and Abdulaziz are also accused of unlawfully keeping firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State.
During their earlier arraignment, both defendants pleaded not guilty when the counts in the charge sheet were read.
Summary of Charge
Count 1: Abubakar Malami is alleged to have knowingly abetted terrorism financing in November 2022 by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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Count 2: Malami and Abdulaziz allegedly prepared to commit an act of terrorism in December 2025 by possessing a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen (16) live Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and twenty-seven (27) expended cartridges, contrary to Section 29 of the same Act.
Count 3: Both are accused of possessing the Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm without a licence, violating Section 3 of the Firearms Act 2004.
Count 4: The duo allegedly possessed sixteen (16) live Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges without a licence, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act 2004.
Count 5: They are accused of possessing twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges without a licence, also contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act 2004.
The case remains pending, with the re-arraignment now rescheduled for Monday, the 23rd of February, 2026.