Court Jails Ex-Borno Senatorial Candidate 10 Years for Aiding Boko Haram

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a former 2015 senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, to 10 years imprisonment for selling petrol to Boko Haram terrorists.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Peter Odo Lifu convicted Habeeb on a one-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism brought against him by the Federal Government.

The convict, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, had pleaded guilty to the charge upon arraignment, admitting to selling fuel to the insurgents.

However, he claimed that his station attendants may have been responsible for the transactions.

During the proceedings, Habeeb pleaded for leniency, stating that he has two wives and six children and had been in detention for over 10 years without contact with his family.

The prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, opposed the plea, arguing that the logistical support provided to the terrorists contributed to the deaths of many Nigerians and displacement of others.

Kaswe acknowledged that the defendant had spent over a decade in detention but urged the court to impose a 20-year sentence, stressing that the terrorists relied on such fuel supplies to carry out attacks and escape.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that there was no evidence linking Habeeb to membership of Boko Haram or involvement in weapons training, noting that the conviction was solely based on the sale of fuel to the group.

The judge also observed that the claim of prolonged detention was not challenged by the prosecution.

He subsequently sentenced Habeeb to 10 years imprisonment and ordered that the sentence take effect from the date of his arrest and detention.

Justice Lifu further directed that the convict be released immediately upon signing of his release warrant, to enable him undergo rehabilitation.