A Federal High Court has sentenced a Maiduguri-based businessman and Point of Sale (POS) operator to 20 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of financing terrorism through financial transactions linked to a Boko Haram member.
The convict, Umar Bashir, was handed the lengthy prison term after admitting to facilitating the movement of funds connected to the insurgent group.
Court Hears Details of Terror Financing Transaction
During proceedings, Bashir confessed that he used his bank account to receive and transfer money on behalf of an individual identified as a Boko Haram member.
According to evidence presented before the court, the businessman accepted N5 million in cash from Ibrahim Modu and subsequently transferred the funds into another bank account reportedly belonging to the same individual.
Investigators disclosed that the transaction was carried out through Bashir’s account with a commercial bank.
The convict further admitted that he earned a commission of N20,000 for facilitating the transfer.
Guilty Plea Leads to Conviction
When brought before the court by the Federal Government, Bashir pleaded guilty to the charge of terrorism financing.
His admission, alongside a confessional statement tendered before the court, formed part of the evidence considered in reaching a verdict.
Following the guilty plea, Justice Binta Fatimah Nyako convicted the defendant and imposed a 20-year prison sentence without the option of a fine.
Judge Rejects Plea for Leniency
Although the convict appealed for mercy during sentencing, the court declined the request.
Justice Nyako held that the seriousness of the offence required strict enforcement of the law, particularly given Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency.
The judge further directed that the prison term should take effect from 2025, the year Bashir was arrested and placed in custody.
Renewed Focus on Terrorism Financing
The case highlights growing efforts by Nigerian authorities to clamp down on financial networks that support terrorist activities.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that terrorism financing remains one of the key factors sustaining insurgent operations, making financial tracking and prosecution critical components of counter-terrorism efforts.
The conviction is expected to reinforce government efforts to discourage individuals and businesses from facilitating suspicious financial transactions, regardless of the monetary benefit involved.
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