A 2015 senatorial candidate in Borno State, Hon. Babagana Habeeb, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Federal High Court in Abuja for supplying petroleum products to members of Boko Haram, a proscribed organisation.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Friday, convicting the politician on a one-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism filed by the federal government.
Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, admitted to the charge during his arraignment, acknowledging that fuel was sold to insurgents operating in the North-East. He, however, suggested that his station attendants might have carried out the transactions.
During the proceedings, which lasted nearly an hour, the defendant knelt in the dock and appealed to the court for leniency. He told the court he has two wives and six children and had been unable to see or communicate with his family for over 10 years since his detention.
Counsel to the federal government, Mr David Kaswe, opposed the plea, arguing that the support provided to the insurgents contributed to loss of lives and displacement of many people.
While acknowledging that Habeeb had spent over a decade in custody, Kaswe urged the court to impose a 20-year sentence.
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He argued that Boko Haram fighters relied on fuel to power their motorcycles for attacks and escape, stressing that such operations would not have been possible without suppliers.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu stated that there was no proof that Habeeb was a member of Boko Haram or had received weapons training, noting that the case against him was strictly based on the sale of fuel to the group.
The judge also observed that the prosecution did not challenge the claim that the convict had spent more than 10 years in detention. He subsequently sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Justice Lifu further ordered that the sentence should take effect from the date of Habeeb’s arrest and detention, and directed that he be released immediately after signing his release warrant to enable him undergo rehabilitation.