POS operator jailed 20 years after making N20,000 from transaction for Boko Haram member

A Maiduguri-based businessman, Umar Bashir, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without option of fine for terrorism financing.

The convict who claimed to be a major dealer in oil perfumes and also a Point Of Sales, POS, operator, was found guilty of using his account number 2213629628 with the United Bank of Africa, UBA, to transact money transfer for members of the Boko Haram sect.

He specifically admitted using the bank account to accept a cash amount of N5 million from a Boko Haram member, Ibrahim Modu, and later transferred same into the Access Bank account of the terrorist, with number 1834250967.

The convict admitted committing the offence at Maiduguri in 2025, adding that he got a commission of N20,000 from the deal.

Upon his arraignment by the Federal Government on Monday, Bashir pleaded guilty as charged.

Based on his admission of guilt and his confessional statement, Justice Binta Fatimah Nyako subsequently pronounced him guilty and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment without option of fine.

Justice Nyako ordered that the sentence should begin from 2025 when he was arrested and detained.

The judge turned down the convict’s request for leniency, stressing that the law must take its course.