A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a former senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, to 10 years imprisonment for selling petrol to Boko Haram terrorists.
Babagana was convicted on Friday by Justice Peter Lifu on a one count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism in the country brought against him by the Federal Government.
Habeeb, a fuel dealer in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, had upon his arraignment on the one count charge admitted guilt of selling fuel to the terrorists.
He however claimed that his fuel station attendants may have been responsible for the sales.
The politician while kneeling down in the dock for almost one hour his trial lasted, pleaded passionately with Justice Peter Lifu to be lenient with him.
He claimed to have two wives and six children and that he had not been allowed to see or communicate with any member of his family since more than 10 years he had been in detention.
The Federal Government lawyer, Mr David Kaswe vehemently 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.
The lawyer 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
In his judgment, Justice Peter Lifu held that there was no evidence that the convict was a member of Boko Haram or trained on weapon handling, adding that the sole accusation against him was the sale of fuel to the terrorists.
The judge also 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.
