Wetin dey happen? The Nigerian authorities don finally drop that serious terrorism financing charge wey dem bin dey pursue against former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami and him pikin, Abdulaziz. Na big turn of events for this high-profile case wey don dey draw attention up and down.
For court on Wednesday, the prosecution lawyer from the Department of State Services, Akinlolu Kehinde, tell the judge say dem don amend the charge sheet. The heavy terrorism financing allegation don disappear comot. Wetin remain now na only the case of illegal possession of firearms.
The new charge dey talk say weapons and live cartridges dem recover from Malami house for Birnin Kebbi, for north-west Nigeria. Malami, wey be 58 years old, and him son both hear the new charge for court. Dem two plead not guilty to am.
Lawyer for the defendants, Shaibu Aruwa, confirm say him clients don see the updated charge. Dem no object to the court reading am. The presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, rule say Malami and Abdulaziz fit continue with their bail. But dem must surrender their travel documents to the court.
The bail amount na 500 million naira each. That one na about 260,000 pounds or 350,000 US dollars. The judge adjourn the case until 26 May for the trial to begin proper.
This gun case no be the only wahala wey Malami dey face. For separate matter, the ex-minister and him wife and son still dey answer to money laundering charges. The whole thing don cause plenty talk for the country.
Malami himself don talk before say him believe say na politics dey play. Him reason na because him don leave the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. Now, him don join the newly formed African Democratic Congress, ADC. That party dey try position itself as the main challenger for power.
Background to the matter show say DSS first arraign Malami and Abdulaziz on February 3. That time, the charge get five counts, include the terrorism financing and the illegal gun possession. DSS accuse Malami of refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers wey dem bin send their case files to him office when he still be Attorney-General.
On February 27, the court grant Malami and him son bail of 200 million naira each. Dem need two sureties for the same amount. Now, with the terrorism charge don vanish, the case don shrink to just the firearm matter. The next court date na May 26, and another one for June 15.
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