A former senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for supplying petrol to Boko Haram insurgents, after being found guilty of aiding terrorism.
The judgment was delivered on Friday by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, where trial judge Justice Peter Lifu held that the Federal Government had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, admitted during proceedings that insurgents obtained petrol from his filling station, though he claimed the transactions were carried out by his attendants.
He appeared visibly emotional in court, kneeling throughout the proceedings while pleading for leniency.
“I have two wives and six children who depend on me,” he told the court, adding that he had not seen or communicated with his family for over 10 years while in detention.
However, prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, opposed any leniency, arguing that the support Habeeb provided had grave consequences.
“The logistical support he rendered to terrorists led to the deaths of several people and the destruction of homes and properties,” Kaswe said.
He further stressed that fuel supplies played a critical role in enabling insurgents to carry out attacks.
“Boko Haram would not have been able to use their motorcycles to launch attacks on innocent people and escape into the bush without fuel supplies,” he added, urging the court to impose a 20-year sentence.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu clarified that there was no evidence linking Habeeb directly to membership of Boko Haram or any weapons training, noting that the conviction was solely based on the supply of fuel to the group.
The judge also acknowledged that the Federal Government did not dispute Habeeb’s claim that he had already spent over a decade in pre-trial detention.
Consequently, the court sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment, to run from the date of his arrest and detention—effectively ordering his release upon completion of formalities.
The court further directed that Habeeb be released after signing the necessary documents to enable him undergo rehabilitation.
