Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, Terrorist Support, New York 2023
WASINGTON - In a major blow to international terrorism, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, a 35-year-old Nigerian citizen, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for conspiring to provide and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge John Gleeson of the Eastern District of New York on [date].
Babafemi was charged with conspiring to provide and providing material support to AQAP between approximately January 2010 and August 2011. During this time, he traveled twice from Nigeria to Yemen to meet and train with leaders of AQAP.
According to previous court filings, AQAP leaders trained Babafemi in the use of weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles. He was also taught the importance of AQAP’s English-language media operations to its mission of inspiring “lone-wolf” style attacks abroad in the name of AQAP.
Babafemi assisted in AQAP’s English-language media operations, which include the publication of the online Inspire Magazine. He worked closely with Samir Khan, the founder of Inspire and a U.S. citizen. Babafemi’s photograph, alongside Khan and other AQAP members, each holding an AK-47, was published in Issue 5 of Inspire.
“With this sentence, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi is being held accountable for conspiring with members of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and providing material support to the foreign terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Babafemi travelled to Yemen to receive weapons training and to learn how to contribute to AQAP’s English-language media operation, in addition to receiving money to recruit others to join AQAP’s ranks.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zainab Ahmad and Hilary Jager of the Eastern District of New York, with assistance from Trial Attorney [name].
Defendant: Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi
Criminal Charges: Conspiring to provide and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization
City and State: New York
Exact Date: [date]
Sentence: 22 years in prison
Amount: The equivalent of almost $9,000 in cash
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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