The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a former senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, to 10 years in prison for aiding terrorist activities.The conviction was delivered on Friday by Justice Peter Lifu on a one-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism filed by the Federal Government.
During the trial, the court heard that Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, admitted to selling petrol to members of Boko Haram, though he claimed the transactions may have been carried out by his staff without his direct knowledge.He pleaded for leniency, telling the court he had already spent over 10 years in detention and had been cut off from his family during that period.
However, prosecuting counsel David Kaswe opposed the request for leniency, arguing that the fuel supplied to the group enabled violent attacks that caused deaths and displacement. He urged the court to impose a stronger sentence, stressing the importance of cutting off logistical support to insurgents.
In his ruling, Justice Peter Lifu stated that while there was no proof linking the defendant directly to Boko Haram membership or combat involvement, selling fuel to the group still amounted to aiding terrorism.The court also noted that the prosecution did not challenge the defendant’s claim regarding his lengthy detention period. Habeeb was therefore sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, effective from the date of his arrest, with the court ordering that he be released upon completion of the sentence and undergo rehabilitation thereafter.
