By Abiola Olawale
The legal battle surrounding the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, took a dramatic turn on Friday as his quest for freedom faced a fresh hurdle.
Malami’s bail application suffered a setback as the court adjourned proceedings over a public holiday, leaving the embattled former minister and his son, Abdulaziz, in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for at least another week.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, was scheduled to hear the bail application and commence trial on February 20, 2026.
However, the unexpected declaration of a public holiday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in preparation for the FCT Area Council elections, brought judicial activities to a standstill.
The former AGF is currently grappling with a five-count charge (marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026) that touches on national security. According to the prosecution, Malami is accused of allegedly abetting terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
Recall that Malami’s recent woes began on January 19, 2026, when he was rearrested by the DSS just as he was being released from Kuje Correctional Centre. He had previously been granted bail in a separate N8.7 billion money laundering case filed by the EFCC.
