The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a Nigerian politician, Babagana Habeeb, to 10 years in prison for supplying petrol to Boko Haram insurgents.
The judgment was delivered on Friday by Justice Peter Lifu, who found the former senatorial candidate from Borno State guilty of aiding terrorist activities.
Habeeb was convicted following a one-count charge filed by the Federal Government, which accused him of providing material support to the insurgent group Boko Haram.
During the trial, the court heard that Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, admitted that petrol from his filling station ended up in the hands of the insurgents. However, he attempted to distance himself from direct involvement, suggesting that the transactions may have been carried out by his attendants without his knowledge.
In an emotional moment during proceedings, Habeeb broke down in tears, went on his knees, and pleaded with the court for leniency. He told the judge that he had already endured significant hardship, adding that his family had neither seen nor heard from him for about a decade.
Despite the plea, the prosecution, led by David Kaswe, opposed any form of leniency. Kaswe argued that the offence was grave and had far-reaching consequences, stressing that fuel supplied to insurgents played a critical role in enabling their operations.
According to the prosecution, access to petrol facilitated the movement of insurgents, including the execution of attacks and swift escape from targeted locations. Kaswe linked the act to widespread destruction and loss of lives across Nigeria’s North-East region and urged the court to impose a stiffer sentence of 20 years.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu acknowledged that there was no evidence proving that Habeeb was a member of Boko Haram or that he had received any form of military or weapons training. He stated that the only proven offence before the court was the supply of petrol to the insurgents.
The judge also noted that the prosecution did not dispute the defendant’s claim that he had already spent over 10 years in detention before the conclusion of the trial.
Taking these factors into consideration, the court sentenced Habeeb to 10 years imprisonment. Justice Lifu ruled that the sentence would take effect from the date of his initial arrest and detention, effectively accounting for the time he had already spent in custody.
The court further directed that Habeeb be released immediately upon completion of the sentence, subject to the signing of necessary documentation. Additionally, the judge ordered that the convict undergo proper rehabilitation after serving his term.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to clamp down on individuals and networks accused of providing logistical support to terrorist groups, particularly in the insurgency-affected North-East region.
