The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has taken over the prosecution of his immediate predecessor, Abubakar Malami.
Malami faces terrorism and illegal firearms possession charges brought against him by the Department of the State Service (DSS).
Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) took over the trial from the DSS on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, announced the attorney general’s appearance in the matter.
Oyedepo told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the trial cannot proceed because Fagbemi has just taken over the prosecution.
He informed the court that the prosecution needed more time to familiarise itself with the facts of the case.
Counsel to the defendants, Adedayo Adedeji, who did not oppose the application, however urged the court to strike out the matter if the prosecution fails to open its case at the next adjourned date, citing lack of diligent prosecution.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 10 for trial and for the prosecution to formally open its case.
The Court had on February 27 admitted Malami and his son, Abdulaziz to ₦200m bail, with two sureties, each one of whom must own landed property either in Maitama or Asokoro.
Justice Abdulmalik had said that the title of the property must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court along with valid international passports.
The sureties were also ordered to depose to affidavit of means and submit their two recent passport photographs with the court.
Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.