Nigerian Politician Sentenced to 10 Years for Supplying Petrol to Boko Haram

A 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 supporting terrorist activities.

The conviction followed a one-count charge filed by the Federal Government, accusing him of aiding and abetting terrorism.

Habeeb, a known fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, admitted before the court that petrol from his station got into the hands of the insurgents.

However, he tried to shift responsibility, suggesting that his attendants may have carried out the transactions without his direct involvement.

During the proceedings, the convict broke down in court. He went on his knees and begged the judge for mercy. He said he had already suffered greatly, adding that his family had not seen or spoken to him for about 10 years.

The prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, rejected the emotional appeal. He argued that the offence was too serious to attract sympathy.

According to him, the fuel supplied played a key role in terrorist operations, especially in facilitating attacks and quick escape routes.

Kaswe told the court that without access to fuel, the insurgents would have struggled to carry out many of their deadly missions. He linked the act to the loss of lives and destruction of communities across the North-East. He urged the court to impose a stricter sentence of 20 years.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu noted that there was no proof that Habeeb was a member of Boko Haram or that he had any training in handling weapons. He said the only established offence was the sale of petrol to the group.

The judge also observed that the prosecution did not challenge the claim that the defendant had already spent over a decade in detention before the trial was concluded.

Based on these findings, the court handed Habeeb a 10-year jail term. Justice Lifu further ruled that the sentence should take effect from the date of his initial arrest and detention.

He added that the convict should be released immediately after completing the term, upon signing of the necessary documents. The court also directed that he undergo proper rehabilitation after release.