Former Senatorial Candidate Sentenced to 10 Years for Selling Petrol to Boko Haram.
From Abdulkadir Yahaya, Abuja
Babagana Habib, a former senatorial candidate in Borno State, was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison for illegally selling petrol to Boko Haram terrorists.
Habib, who ran in the 2015 election, was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja on a single charge of aiding and abetting terrorism.
Trial Justice Peter Lifu stated that the Federal Government had successfully proven its case against him. Habib, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, Borno State, admitted in court that insurgents had obtained fuel from his station, though he claimed his attendants had made the sales.
Throughout the proceedings, Habib knelt before the court, pleading for mercy. He explained that he has two wives and six children depending on him and that he had been unable to contact his family for over 10 years while in detention.
The prosecution, represented by Mr. David Kaswe of the Federal Ministry of Justice, opposed Habib’s request for leniency. Kaswe argued that the support he provided to terrorists contributed to the loss of life and destruction of property.
Despite acknowledging Habib has been detained for over a decade, the government lawyer recommended a 20-year sentence, emphasizing that fuel supplies enabled Boko Haram to carry out attacks and escape.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu clarified that there was no evidence linking Habib to membership in Boko Haram or to weapon training. The only charge was the sale of fuel to the terrorists.
The judge also noted that the government did not dispute Habib’s claim of spending over 10 years in pre-trial detention.
Consequently, Habib was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, effective from the date of his arrest and detention. The court ordered his release upon the signing of his release warrant tomorrow.
