The Federal High Court in Abuja has moved the trial of former Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, to February 27.
The case was postponed by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik after the Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), declared a public holiday ahead of the area council elections.
When reporters visited Court 6 on the third floor around 9 a.m., only a few court workers were present. No lawyers, parties in the case, or the defendants were seen. Some lawyers and court users who showed up were asked to leave because of the work-free day.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had charged Malami and his son on February 3. They face five counts, including terrorism-related offences and illegal possession of firearms.
Malami is also accused of failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers while he was Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
Both father and son are accused of keeping firearms at their home in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, without legal approval.
They pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
After their plea, the DSS lawyer, Calistus Eze, asked the court to keep them in DSS custody and set a date for trial.
The defence lawyer, Shuaibu Aruwan (SAN), asked the court to grant them bail, saying they had already spent more than two weeks in DSS custody.
Justice Abdulmalik refused the oral bail request and said a proper written application must be filed because her court keeps official records of proceedings. She ordered that the two men remain in DSS custody and earlier fixed February 20 for the start of trial, which has now been shifted to February 27.
