By WANDOO SOMBO

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, sentenced a former senatorial candidate from Borno, Babagana Habeeb, to 10 years imprisonment for aiding terrorism.

Delivering judgment, Justice Peter Lifu, convicted Habeeb on a one-count charge filed by the Federal Government.

The charge bordered on aiding and abetting terrorist activities through the supply of petroleum products to insurgents.

Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, pleaded guilty during arraignment to selling fuel in the North-East region.

He, however, claimed that his station attendants might have conducted the transactions without his direct involvement.

During proceedings, the convict pleaded for leniency, he knelt in the dock and appealed to the judge for mercy.

He said he had two wives and six children and had been in detention for over 10 years without any contact with his family.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr David Kaswe, opposed the plea, arguing that the support enabled attacks that caused deaths and displacement.

Kaswe urged the court to impose a 20-year sentence in spite of the convict’s prolonged detention.

He maintained that fuel supplies facilitated the insurgents’ mobility during attacks and their escape into remote areas.

Justice Lifu held that there was no evidence linking Habeeb to membership or training within the terrorist group.

The judge noted that the sole offence established against him was the sale of fuel to insurgents.

He also observed that the prosecution did not dispute the claim of prolonged detention.

Justice Lifu consequently sentenced Habeeb to 10 years imprisonment.

The court ordered that the sentence should take effect from the date of his arrest and detention.

It further directed that the convict be released immediately after signing his release warrant to enable rehabilitation. (NAN)