Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana has publicly accused former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of founding and financing Boko Haram. Falana stated that the former governor used the group for political gain and directly challenged him to take legal action if the claims were false.
Ali Modu Sheriff has consistently and repeatedly denied any involvement with, or sponsorship of, Boko Haram. No court in Nigeria has convicted him for sponsoring terrorism.

