A former senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Abuja for aiding Boko Haram insurgents.
The judgment was delivered on Friday by Justice Peter Lifu, who convicted Habeeb on a one-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism brought against him by the Federal Government.
Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, came under investigation after security agencies uncovered a network of fuel supplies reaching Boko Haram fighters operating in parts of Borno State.
According to court proceedings, intelligence reports and subsequent tracking of fuel distribution in the area linked supplies from his filling station to the insurgents, leading to his arrest and prosecution.
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During trial, the defendant admitted that petrol from his station was sold to members of the terrorist group but argued that the transactions may have been carried out by his employees without his direct approval.
He pleaded for leniency, telling the court that he has two wives and six children and had spent over 10 years in detention without access to his family.
Counsel to the Federal Government, David Kaswe, opposed the plea, insisting that the support provided to the insurgents contributed significantly to their operations.
He argued that access to fuel enabled the group to carry out attacks and escape, resulting in loss of lives and displacement of residents. The prosecution urged the court to impose a 20-year sentence.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that there was no evidence linking Habeeb directly to membership of Boko Haram or involvement in armed activities, noting that the conviction was based solely on the sale of fuel to the insurgents.
The judge also observed that the defendant’s claim of spending more than a decade in detention was not challenged by the prosecution.
Justice Lifu subsequently sentenced Habeeb to 10 years imprisonment, ordering that the term should commence from the date of his arrest. He further directed that the convict be released upon completion of the sentence, with a recommendation for rehabilitation.
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