Former Senatorial Hopeful Sentenced to Decade Behind Bars for Fueling Boko Haram Activities

A 2015 candidate for the Senate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, has been sentenced to a decade of incarceration by the Abuja Federal High Court for supplying fuel to Boko Haram militants.

The politician was found guilty on Friday by Justice Peter Lifu on a singular charge of facilitating and supporting terrorism within the nation brought against him by the Federal Government.

Habeeb, a fuel supplier in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, had upon his arraignment to the singular charge acknowledged his culpability in providing fuel to the militants.

However, he asserted that the employees at his fuel station might have been accountable for the transactions.

The politician, while kneeling in the dock for nearly an hour that his trial endured, implored Justice Peter Lifu earnestly to show him mercy.

He asserted that he has two wives and six children and that he has not been permitted to see or communicate with any member of his family throughout the over 10 years he has spent in detention.

The Federal Government lawyer, Mr. David Kaswe, strongly opposed the convict’s request for leniency, emphasizing that the logistical support provided to the militants has resulted in numerous fatalities and left many others displaced.

Kaswe acknowledged that the convict has spent more than a decade in custody but asserted that he should receive a 20-year prison sentence.

The lawyer maintained that Boko Haram would not have been able to utilize their motorcycles to launch assaults on innocent individuals and evade into the wilderness without someone selling them fuel.

In his ruling, Justice Peter Lifu stated that there was no proof that the convict was affiliated with Boko Haram or trained in arms handling, stressing that the sole charge against him was the sale of fuel to the militants.

The judge also asserted that the claim of spending over 10 years in custody by the convict was not disproven by the prosecution.

Justice Peter Lifu subsequently sentenced the defendant to 10 years in prison.

He ordered, however, that the sentence should commence from the date of the arrest and subsequent detention of the convict.

The judge mandated that the convict be released immediately upon the signing of his release warrant to allow him to pursue extensive rehabilitation.