Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, has sentenced a 2015 senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, to 10 years imprisonment for selling petrol to Boko Haram terrorists.
Habeeb, who is a father of six children and two wives, was convicted on a one count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism in the country brought against him by the federal government. The convicted politician and a fuel dealer in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, had upon his arraignment admitted selling fuel to the terrorists.
He however told the court that his fuel station attendants might have been responsible for the sales.
Habeeb, who pleaded with the court on bended knees for leniency, said as a father of six children and two wives, he had not been allowed to see or communicate with any member of his family since more than 10 years in detention.
However, the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe opposed the plea of the convict for leniency, adding that the logistics support accorded the terrorists had led to death of several people and rendered others homeless. Kaswe admitted that the convict had spent more than 10 years in detention and insisted that he should be given 20 years imprisonment.
He maintained that Boko Haram would not have been able to use their motorcycles to launch attacks on innocent people and escape into the bush if no one had sold fuel to them.
Justice Peter Lifu, in his judgment held that there was no evidence that the convict was a member of Boko Haram or trained on weapon handling.
The judge added that the sole accusation against him was the sale of fuel to the terrorists.
He further held that the claim of spending more than 10 years in custody by the convict was not debunked by the prosecution.
Justice Peter Lifu subsequently sentenced the defendant to 10 years imprisonment.
He however ordered that the jail term should start from the date of the arrest and detention of the convict.
The judge ordered that the convict be immediately released upon signing of his release warrant to enable him go for extensive rehabilitation.
