The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has assumed responsibility for the prosecution of his immediate predecessor, Abubakar Malami.
Malami is facing charges of terrorism and illegal possession of firearms filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), formally took over the case on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Attorney General’s involvement, explaining that the trial could not proceed as Fagbemi had just taken over the prosecution.
“The prosecution requires additional time to familiarize itself with the facts of the case,” Oyedepo told the court.
Counsel to the defendant, Adedayo Adedeji, did not oppose the application but urged the court to dismiss the case if the prosecution fails to formally open its case at the next hearing, citing a lack of diligent prosecution.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 10 for the trial to commence and for the prosecution to formally present its case.