“Ex-Senator Faces a Decade Behind Bars for Fueling Boko Haram’s Operations”

A 2015 senatorial aspirant in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, has been sentenced to a decade in prison by the Abuja Federal High Court for supplying petrol to Boko Haram insurgents.

The politician was found guilty on Friday by Justice Peter Lifu on a single charge of facilitating and supporting terrorism in the nation presented by the Federal Government.

Habeeb, a fuel supplier in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, had, during his arraignment on the single charge, acknowledged his wrongdoing in providing fuel to the militants.

He, however, asserted that his fuel station staff might have been accountable for the transactions.

The politician, while kneeling in the dock for nearly one hour that his trial lasted, fervently appealed to Justice Peter Lifu for mercy.

He mentioned having two wives and six children and indicated that he hadn’t been permitted to see or communicate with any family member during the more than 10 years he had been incarcerated.

The Federal Government’s attorney, Mr. David Kaswe, strongly opposed the convict’s request for clemency, stating that the logistical aid provided to the insurgents had resulted in numerous fatalities and left many others without shelter.

Kaswe acknowledged that the convict had been in detention for over a decade but insisted he should receive a 20-year sentence.

The attorney argued that Boko Haram would not have been able to utilize their motorcycles to execute assaults on innocent civilians and retreat into the wilderness if no one had supplied them with fuel.

In his ruling, Justice Peter Lifu stated that there was no proof that the defendant was a member of Boko Haram or had any training in weapon handling, emphasizing that the sole charge against him was the provision of fuel to the insurgents.

The judge also confirmed that the defendant’s assertion of being held for more than 10 years in custody was not disproved by the prosecution.

Justice Peter Lifu consequently sentenced the accused to a decade in prison.

He directed, however, that the prison term should commence from the date of the convict’s arrest and detention.

The judge ordered that the convict be released immediately upon signing his release warrant to facilitate his comprehensive rehabilitation.