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Ali Modu Sheriff was elected governor of Borno State in Nigeria in April 2003. He is a member of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). Ali Sheriff was the first governor in Borno state to win the seat two consecutive times.

Ali Modu Sheriff was born in Ngala Town, Ngala Local Government Area, Borno State in 1956. His father was the business tycoon Galadima Modu Sheriff.

He attended Government Secondary School, Bama (1974–1979). He attended the London School of Business, where he studied Insurance, Banking and Finance.

In 1981, he joined his father’s construction company as a Director, later becoming Managing Director.

In 1985, he registered his first company. His companies include Meroil Organisation and Union Chase.

In 1990, he became a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 1997, he joined the National Republican Convention (NRC).

He was a member of the Constitutional Conference and chaired the committee on states and local government.

Ali Modu Sheriff was elected Senator representing Borno Central on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) during General Sani Abacha’s military regime.

After democracy was restored, in April 1999 he was again elected Senator, Borno Central on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

In 2003, he ran for Governor of Borno State on the ANPP platform and won. He was re-elected in 2007 and sworn in on 29 May 2007. In both cases, he defeated the PDP candidate Kashim Ibrahim-Imam.

During September 2014 the local media at Nigeria published that Ex-Gov Sheriff, accused of sponsoring Boko Haram, ready to face justice.

The man widely accused of founding extremist sect Boko Haram, Ali Modu Sheriff, has announced his preparedness to face justice if found guilty.

Mr. Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State where Boko Haram is based, spoke days after a government-appointed negotiator, accused him of being a sponsor of the deadly group.

The negotiator, Stephen Davis, an Australian, also accused a former army chief, Azubuike Iherijirika, of supporting the group.

Mr. Sheriff said he is prepared to face prosecution if it is proven that he is one of the sponsors of the extremist sect, responsible for the deaths of more than 12,000.

He described the allegations as political and vowed to take legal action against the Australian, commissioned by the Nigerian government to help rescue more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram militants April 14.

“I have no association with any terrorists anywhere,” Mr. Sheriff said. “I have never met the group. I cannot be a sponsor of a group I have not met before. I don’t have foot soldiers, as they alleged.“