Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has officially assumed the prosecution of Abubakar Malami, his immediate predecessor, in the terrorist and illegal firearms possession cases brought against him by the Department of the State Service, or DSS.
Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, took over the trial from the DSS on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Fagbemi announced his appearance in the case through Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation(DPPF), on Wednesday, the scheduled day of the prosecution of Malami and his son Abdulazeez Malami.
He informed Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that since Fagbemi had recently assumed the prosecution, the trial could not go forward.
He claims that the case file was recently sent to the AGF and that he required time to review it in order to make an informed choice.
Malami, represented by Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, expressed dissatisfaction at the delay in starting the trial and requested that the judge dismiss the case at the next postponed date in the event that the federal government could provide an explanation.
In response, the DPPF requested the judge to disregard the request for the charge to be struck out since it was premature.
After taking arguments, Justice Abdulmalik fixed March 10 for trial to be opened by the AGF.
Recall that the Court had on February 27 admitted Malami and his son, Abdulaziz to N200m bail, with two sureties, each one of whom must own landed property either in Maitama or Asokoro.
The DSS had arraigned Malami and his son, Abdulaziz on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.
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