Nigerian authorities have withdrawn terrorism financing charges against former justice minister Abubakar Malami and his son, narrowing the case to alleged illegal possession of firearms.
Malami, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, now faces a revised charge sheet after prosecutors amended the case during a court hearing on Wednesday.
According to the updated charges, security authorities said weapons and live ammunition were recovered from Malami’s residence in Birnin Kebbi, in northwestern Nigeria.
Malami, 58, long regarded as one of the most powerful figures in Buhari’s administration, and his son Abdulaziz both pleaded not guilty to the revised charges.
Prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde, representing the Department of State Services (DSS), told the court the terrorism-related counts had been dropped. Defence lawyer Shaibu Aruwa confirmed receipt of the amended charge sheet and raised no objection to it being read in court.
Presiding judge Joyce Abdulmalik ordered that both defendants remain on bail set at 500 million naira ($350,000) each, while also surrendering their travel documents to the court.
The case was adjourned until May 26 for trial.
In a separate proceeding, Malami is also facing money laundering charges alongside his wife and son.
The former minister has dismissed the prosecutions as politically motivated, linking them to his departure from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and his alignment with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is seeking to challenge for power.
The case continues to draw significant public and political attention in Nigeria.