By Vivian Okejeme
Justice Peter Lifu of the federal high court, Abuja, Friday, sentenced a 2015 senatorial candidate in Borno state, Hon. Babagana Habeeb to 10 years imprisonment for selling petroleum to members of Boko Haram in the state.
The federal government tried the convict on a one count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism in the country.
Habeeb, a fuel dealer in Maiduguri, had upon his arraignment, pleaded guilty of selling fuel to the terrorists to the sect.
In his defence, 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 in the sentence.
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 ten years he was hauled into detention.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Mr David Kaswe opposed the plea of the convict for leniency.
He insisted 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 the Boko Harams would not have been able to use their motorcycles to launch attacks on the 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 Harams or trained on weapon adding that the sole accusation against him was on the sale of fuel to the terrorists.
The Judge also held that the claim of spending more than 10 years in the 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 arrest and detention of the convict.
The Judge ordered that the convict be immediately released upon his signing of his release warrant to enable him go for extensive rehabilitation.
