A federal high court in Abuja, Nigeria, has added terrorism-related charges against former attorney general and justice minister Abubakar Malami, intensifying legal proceedings already ongoing over allegations of financial misconduct.
Malami, who served as Nigeria’s attorney general and justice minister from 2015 to 2023, was previously accused of laundering approximately $6 million alongside his wife and son. On Tuesday, the court charged him with knowingly abetting terrorism financing by allegedly refusing to prosecute individuals suspected of supporting insurgents.
“The charges allege that Malami and his son engaged in acts of terrorism by possessing an unlicensed pistol and ammunition at their residence,” the court statement read.
Both Malami and his son have pleaded not guilty to the new charges. Last month, Malami was granted bail in the ongoing money laundering case but was rearrested shortly afterward, reflecting the gravity of the combined allegations.
The trial of Malami marks the latest in a string of legal actions against top officials from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration accused of corruption or misconduct.
Nigeria has faced a protracted insurgency over the past decade and a half, primarily driven by Boko Haram and other militant groups, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives and displaced nearly two million people. Legal experts say the terrorism charges against Malami underscore the country’s ongoing struggle to hold high-ranking officials accountable in matters relating to national security.
“These developments are unprecedented in Nigeria, reflecting both the government’s commitment to combating corruption and its focus on ensuring accountability in matters of terrorism and insurgency financing,” a legal analyst noted.
The court will continue to hear the case as investigations and proceedings unfold.
