A former senatorial candidate in Borno State has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja for selling petroleum products to members of the Boko Haram sect.
The convict, Babagana Habeeb, was found guilty on a lone-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism brought against him by the Federal Government.
Habeeb, who contested for a Senate seat in 2015, was said to be a fuel dealer in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where he allegedly supplied petroleum products that were later used by terrorists operating in the North-East.
According to court proceedings, he admitted to the offence upon arraignment but claimed that his fuel attendants may have carried out the sales without his direct knowledge.
During sentencing, the defendant reportedly pleaded for leniency, kneeling in the dock for nearly an hour and appealing to the court, saying he had been in detention for over 10 years without contact with his two wives and six children.
Counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. David Kaswe, opposed the plea for mercy, arguing that the supply of logistics such as fuel had significantly aided terrorist operations, resulting in deaths and displacement of civilians.
He urged the court to impose a 20-year sentence.
Delivering judgment, Justice Peter Odo Lifu held that while there was no evidence linking the convict directly to Boko Haram membership or training, the prosecution proved that he facilitated the supply of fuel to the group.
The court also noted that the defendant’s claim of spending over a decade in detention was not disputed by the prosecution.
Justice Lifu subsequently sentenced Habeeb to 10 years imprisonment, ordering that the term should run from the date of his arrest.
The judge further directed that the convict be released immediately upon the signing of his release warrant to enable him undergo rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
