- Lawyers and litigants who arrived for scheduled matters were reportedly turned back because of the holiday
- Prosecution counsel Calistus Eze requested that the court remand them in DSS custody pending trial
- The agency also claimed that firearms were stored at the defendants’ residence
The public holiday declared by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the area council elections has delayed proceedings in the trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the father and son were expected to appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday. However, the matter was postponed to February 27 following the declaration of a work-free day in the FCT.
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At about 9 a.m., only limited activity was observed at Court 6 on the third floor of the Federal High Court complex, with a handful of court staff present. The defendants and their legal representatives were absent.
Lawyers and litigants who arrived for scheduled matters were reportedly turned back because of the holiday announced by the FCT Administration.
Earlier, on February 3, the Department of State Services arraigned Malami and his son on a five-count charge related to alleged terrorism offences and unlawful possession of firearms.
In the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the DSS accused Malami of failing to prosecute suspected financiers of terrorism despite case files allegedly submitted to him during his tenure as Attorney-General.
The agency also claimed that firearms were stored at the defendants’ residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, without proper authorisation.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their arraignment, prosecution counsel Calistus Eze requested that the court remand them in DSS custody pending trial. Defence counsel Shuaibu Aruwan, SAN, made an oral bail application, arguing that the defendants had already spent more than two weeks in custody.
Justice Abdulmalik declined to consider the oral request, noting that as a court of record, it required a formally filed bail application.
She directed the defence team to submit the appropriate documents, after which the case was adjourned to February 27 for continuation.
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