A Maiduguri-based businessman, Umar Bashir, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without option of fine for terrorism financing.
The conviction followed his guilty plea to charges of transferring funds on behalf of members of the Boko Haram sect.
Bashir was arraigned on Monday before Justice Binta Fatimah Nyako of the Federal High Court.
According to the prosecution, Bashir received N5 million in cash from a Boko Haram member identified as Ibrahim Modu and subsequently transferred the money to an Access Bank account belonging to the suspect.
The court heard that he received a ₦20,000 commission for facilitating the transaction in Maiduguri in 2025.
“The convict admitted committing the offence in Maiduguri in 2025 and received a commission of ₦20,000 from the deal,” the prosecution said.
During the proceeding, he admitted to using his UBA account (2213629628) to receive ₦5 million from a Boko Haram member, Ibrahim Modu, and transferring it into an Access Bank account linked to the terrorist network.
Justice Nyako, relying on his confessional statement, found him guilty and ordered that the sentence take effect from 2025 when he was first arrested and detained.