Serious gbege don show for the high-profile case wey involve former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, as the current AGF and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, don officially take over the prosecution from Department of State Services (DSS).
The matter show face on Wednesday for Federal High Court wey dey Abuja, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. That day na when prosecution suppose open their case against Malami and him son, Abdulazeez Malami, but trial no start as expected.
Through Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, the new AGF tell the court say him just collect the full case file from DSS and e need time to sit down study am well-well. According to am, e no go make sense make dem rush start trial when the AGF never properly examine the facts and evidence inside the file. E talk say as chief law officer of the federation, e must first understand everything before e decide how to push the case.
Because of that announcement, DSS no go continue the prosecution directly again, as the AGF office don now take full control of the matter.
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Lawyer to Malami, Senior Advocate Adedayo Adedeji, no too happy with the delay. E tell the judge say this case never even properly open, and now prosecution dey ask for more time again. E beg the court say if by next adjourned date the federal government still come with another excuse, make the judge consider striking out the charges completely.
But the prosecution side fire back quick. Dem say the request to strike out the case too early and no get ground for now. Dem urge the court make e ignore that talk.
After hearing both sides argument, Justice Abdulmalik come fix March 10 as new date when the AGF go formally open the trial.
Before this latest development, court don already grant Malami and him son bail on February 27. The bail condition heavy well well. Each of them must provide two sureties, and each surety must get landed property for either Maitama or Asokoro area of Abuja. Dem must deposit the original title documents of the property with Deputy Chief Registrar of the court. The sureties also go swear affidavit of means to prove say dem fit carry the financial responsibility, and submit two recent passport photographs.
On top that, Malami and him son ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to court as part of the bail terms.
DSS bring five-count charge against the father and son. For the first count, dem accuse Malami say while e dey serve as AGF and Minister of Justice, e knowingly support terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute some suspected terrorism financiers whose case files land for him office.
For the remaining counts, DSS allege say Malami and him son keep one Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 live Redstar AAA cartridges and 27 spent cartridges for their house for Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, without proper license. According to DSS, the action violate provisions of Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and Firearms Act 2004.
The allegations serious because Malami no be small public officer before; na the former chief law officer of the country. Now wey the sitting AGF don personally step inside the matter, many Nigerians dey look am as big twist for the legal fight.
As March 10 dey draw near, plenty eyes don turn to the courtroom to see whether the federal government go press the case strongly or whether fresh drama go still show. One thing clear be say this case no be ordinary matter.