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Alleged terrorism: AGF takes over Malami, son’s trial – see why

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The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has assumed control of the prosecution of a former AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz, over alleged terrorism-related offences and unlawful possession of firearms.

File photo of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi

The development emerged on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja when the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that the case file had been transmitted from the Department of State Services to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

“My lord, I was informed by counsel to the DSS that the case file has been transmitted to the office of the AGF,” Oyedepo told the court.

He sought an adjournment to enable the prosecution to review the case file and take an informed decision, adding that a short date would suffice.

“We ask your lordship for a very short date. If we have four days, it will be enough,” he said.

Counsel for the defendants, Mr Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), did not oppose the application but urged the court to strike out the charge if the prosecution failed to open its case on the next adjourned date, alleging lack of diligent prosecution.

Responding, the DPPF described the defence’s proposed application as premature.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 10, 2026, for commencement of trial and directed the prosecution to formally open its case on that date.

The DSS had arraigned Malami and his son on terrorism-related charges, including alleged refusal to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers and unlawful possession of firearms.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami is accused of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by allegedly refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to him while he served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

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The defendants were also accused of storing firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

Specifically, the prosecution alleged that in December 2025, Malami and his son possessed, without a licence, a Sturm Magnum firearm, 16 live cartridges, and 27 expended cartridges—an act said to be preparatory to terrorism and contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as the Firearms Act.

At their first appearance on February 3, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.

On the last adjourned date, the court admitted them to bail in the sum of N200m each, with two sureties in like sum.

They were, however, ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

As part of the conditions, one of the sureties must own landed property in Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, and deposit the title documents with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, alongside a valid international passport.

The sureties were also directed to depose to affidavits of means and submit two recent passport photographs.

Malami and his son were further ordered to surrender their international passports and submit recent passport photographs to the court.

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Police IG redeploys AIGs, CPs, See details

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The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered the posting of senior officers to various strategic positions across the Nigeria Police Force as part of efforts to strengthen operational efficiency, enhance leadership capacity and improve service delivery nationwide.

The postings, according to a statement on Tuesday by the  Force spokesman, DCP Anthony Placid, are in line with the police commitment to an effective command structure and strategic deployment of personnel across commands, formations and departments.

Under the new arrangement, he said AIG Ado Emmanuel was posted to Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, Abuja; AIG Joseph Eribo to the Department of Armament; AIG Miller Dantawaye to the Department of Operations; AIG Henry Ifeanyi Uche to the Department of Training and Development; AIG Olanrewaju Peter Ogunlowo to Police Accounts and Budget; while AIG Dahiru Mohammed was deployed to Zone 15, Maiduguri.

“Similarly, AIG Dankombo F. Morris was posted to Zone 4, Makurdi; AIG Bello Shehu to Zone 14, Katsina; AIG Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba to the Department of Legal Services; AIG Ahmed Musa to Community Policing; AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh to Zone 2, Lagos; AIG Simeon U. Akpanudom to FCID Annex, Lagos; and AIG Haruna Olufemi to the Special Protection Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja,” the statement added.

The IG also redeployed several Commissioners of Police to state commands and other formations.

CP Haruna Yahaya was posted to Jigawa State Command; CP Betty  Otimenyin to Welfare, Force Headquarters; CP Olugbenga Abimbola to Oyo State Command; CP Yemi John Oyeniyi to Delta State Command; CP Olubode Ojajuni to Ogun State Command; CP Michael  Falade to Ekiti State Command; and CP Yakubu Dankaro to Adamawa State Command.

Others include CP Muhammed Ahmed to the Federal Capital Territory Command; CP Olatunji  Fatai to Lagos State Command; CP Morkwap  Dongshal to Taraba State Command; CP Ahmed  Bello to Zamfara State Command; CP Umar Fagge to Katsina State Command; and CP Hayatu Shaffa Hassan to Sokoto State Command.

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In further postings, CP Akan Ezima was named Director, NPF-NCCC, Abuja; CP Abbas Sule to the Special Protection Unit; CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue to INTERPOL, Abuja; CP Mnwadiogbu Cletus as Deputy Commandant, POLAC; CP Danjuma I. Yahaya to General Investigation, FCID Annex, Kaduna; CP Sheikh M. Danko to FCID Annex, Lagos; and CP Moses Ashu Otta to SWAT, Abuja.

Additional redeployments include CP Abdulrahim A. Shuaibu to Eastern Ports Authority; CP Sarah Ehindero to Administration, FCID Abuja; CP Edwin Ogbegbghagha to Provost, Force Headquarters; CP Preye R. Egbe to INEC, Abuja; CP Adebisi Bola Lateef to Master Printing, Lagos; CP Bolou O. Etete to Community Policing, Research and Planning; and CP Ojugbele E. Adebola to General Investigation, FCID Alagbon, Lagos.

Also affected are CP Fidelis N. Ogarabe, posted to INTERPOL Annex, Lagos; CP Theodore C. Obasi as Deputy Commandant, Police College, Ikeja; CP Eloho E. Okpoziakpo to Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi; CP Kayode Uthman Magaji to K9, Dei-Dei; CP Markus Ishaku Basiran to Courses, POLAC; CP Mohammed Babakura to Administration, Department of Operations; CP Silas Bamidele Aremu to Safer Highway, Department of Operations; CP Magaji Ismaila to Community Safety and Crime Prevention; and CP Rebecca Uchenna Okereke as Director of Music, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

“Tunji Disu charges the officers to bring their wealth of experience to bear in their respective assignments and to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, and service in the discharge of their duties,” he said

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Afenifere Diaspora faults APC over security, election concerns

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The Afenifere Diaspora USA has criticised the All Progressives Congress over what it described as worsening insecurity in the country and alleged attempts to weaken Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general election.

The group, in a statement made available to The PUNCH, dated March 20, 2026, warned that the continued escalation of violent attacks across parts of the country could lead to deeper national crises if urgent measures were not taken.

The statement, jointly signed by the Chairman, Prof Sikiru Fadairo, and the Secretary, David Adenekan, stressed that national security remained a constitutional obligation of the government, noting that failure to adequately address the situation could threaten the unity of the country.

The group said, “The current escalation of insecurity across the country is a dangerous trend that may plunge the nation into a sectarian war if not properly managed and nipped in the bud.”

It emphasised that the protection of lives and property remained a core responsibility of the government, as clearly stated in Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The section provides that “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

It further referenced provisions contained in Chapter IV, Sections 33 to 46 of the Constitution, which guarantee fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, dignity, personal liberty, and privacy.

Afenifere Diaspora USA also condemned the activities of armed groups operating in parts of the country, alleging that recent attacks in the North-East had resulted in significant casualties and displacement of residents.

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The group said, “The recent violent attacks by terrorist groups degrade the status of Nigeria as a sovereign nation. It was widely reported that in March 2026, militants linked to the Islamic State West African Province launched coordinated attacks in the North-East, overrunning several military formations in Borno State, including communities such as Delwa, Goniri, Kukawa and Mainok.”

It added, “An intolerably high figure of 65 military officers were reportedly killed in the attacks, while about 300 persons were said to have been kidnapped. Are acts of killing people in thousands and sacking those fleeing from their villages not tantamount to genocide or ethnic cleansing?”

The group also questioned what it described as attempts to influence international narratives regarding the security situation in Nigeria, alleging that public funds were used to engage foreign lobbyists.

It stated, “Is the current administration not always quick to change the narrative that the killings in Nigeria are merely ‘normal’ incidents that occur in any society, including the unjustifiable expenditure of a whopping sum of nine million dollars from taxpayers’ funds to hire lobbyists in Washington DC to promote the position that there is no genocide or ethnic cleansing in Nigeria?”

On electoral matters, the group criticised the reported removal of the requirement for a candidate to possess a secondary school certificate as part of the eligibility criteria in the Electoral Act, describing the move as detrimental to democratic development.

The statement read, “The decision by members of the National Assembly to expunge from our electoral law the requirement to possess a secondary school certificate is seen as a political charade capable of undermining democratic values and lowering leadership standards in the country.”

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Citing Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution, the group noted that one of the requirements to contest for the office of the President is that a candidate must be educated to at least secondary school certificate level or its equivalent.

“In a digital age driven by information technology, Nigeria must not slide backwards into the abyss of ignorance where leadership competence is compromised. Leadership capacity and skilled knowledge are critical in managing the affairs of a modern state,” the statement added.

The group also called for mandatory electronic transmission of election results, insisting that credible elections remained vital to strengthening democracy and ensuring good governance.

It said, “Every lover of democracy, including the international community, must support a system that guarantees mandatory electronic transmission of election results in real time without optional conditions.

“A free and fair general election in 2027 is sacrosanct and must not be negotiated if Nigeria is to deepen its hard-won democracy and ensure accountable leadership.”

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Share terror intelligence with security agencies, Presidency replies Ndume

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The Presidency has advised Senator Ali Ndume to channel actionable intelligence on terrorism to security agencies rather than making sweeping allegations on television.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, gave the advice on Tuesday while responding to Ndume’s recent television appearance, where he claimed terrorists have informants within the Nigerian society.

In an interview with Vanguard, which was confirmed to PUNCH Online late Tuesday, Onanuga stated that if the Borno South senator possesses specific intelligence about terrorist operations, informants, or planned attacks, such information should be shared with the military and security agencies for operational action.

“If Senator Ndume has credible intelligence about terrorist informants or their mode of operation beyond what is already known to security agencies, the appropriate step is to share this with the Chief of Defence Staff, the National Security Adviser, or relevant intelligence bodies, not to discuss it on television,” Onanuga stated.

The presidential aide emphasised that actionable intelligence requires confidential handling through proper security channels to enable effective response.

PUNCH Online reports that Ndume had appeared on Channels Television, revealing that terrorists use commercial tricycles (Keke NAPEP) to deliver bombs and rely on informants within communities to plan attacks.

“What they do is hit and run. They gather, share information among themselves, and most dangerously, they get information from some citizens, too. They have informants within society,” the senator had stated.

He also criticised government efforts, saying, “The government, I must say, are not walking the talk. Security agencies and soldiers still do not have the training, equipment, ammunition, and motivation they need.”

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Onanuga, however, defended the Tinubu administration’s security investments, noting that President Bola Tinubu approved additional equipment and operational support during a security meeting held just before the Maiduguri bombings.

“The President has demonstrated commitment by approving the highest budgetary allocation to defence in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, securing military equipment from France and the United Kingdom, and directing security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri,” Onanuga stated.

He added that public statements about security gaps, while legitimate as political commentary, become counterproductive when they contain specific operational intelligence that should be classified.

The Presidency’s response comes amid ongoing operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State following the March 16 suicide bombings that killed 23 people and injured 108 others in Maiduguri.

President Tinubu had directed security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri to oversee operations and approved additional equipment to enhance counter-terrorism capabilities.

Vice President Kashim Shettima visited victims at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital on March 18, assuring enhanced support for security forces.

Ndume, who represents Borno South, where much of the insurgency is concentrated, has been vocal about security challenges in the North-East, often calling for more aggressive military action and better equipment for troops.

The senator had also questioned intelligence failures, asking why terrorists who record their atrocities on TikTok cannot be tracked when ordinary citizens’ phones are easily monitored.

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