The public holiday declared by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of Saturday’s (today) area council elections has stalled the trial of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and his son, Abdulaziz.
Malami and his son were scheduled to appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, but the case was adjourned until February 27 due to the holiday.
A visit to Court 6 on the third floor of the high-rise court complex at about 9 am revealed skeletal activity, with only a few court officials present.
Neither the defendants nor their counsel was in court.
It was gathered that some lawyers and litigants who turned up for their cases were asked to leave on account of the work-free day declared by the FCT Administration.
The Department of State Services had on February 3 arraigned Malami and his son on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, the DSS accused Malami of allegedly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers despite case files said to have been forwarded to him while he served as AGF and Minister of Justice.
The agency also alleged that the defendants warehoused firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, without lawful authority.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following their arraignment, prosecuting counsel, Calistus Eze, urged the court to remand the defendants in DSS custody and fix a date for trial.
However, defence counsel, Shuaibu Aruwan, SAN, made an oral application for bail, arguing that the defendants had been in DSS custody for over two weeks.
Justice Abdulmalik declined the oral application, stating that her court, being a court of record, required a formal bail application. She subsequently directed the defence to file the appropriate process.
The matter was thereafter adjourned till February 27 for further proceedings.