A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has convicted and sentenced 10 persons for illegal dealings in petroleum products.
The convicts were sentenced on Friday, November 6, 2026, by Justice H.A. Nganjiwa after pleading guilty to a one-count charge of criminal conspiracy and illegal dealings in petroleum products brought against them by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were identified as James Terry, Gift Ezewu Godfrey, Obidi Peter Obi, Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi, Victor Ataria Sule, Jubril Abubakar, Auwal Aliyu, Nnaemeka Nwobodo, Victor Edem and Sunday Ndem Eyere.
Following their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
In his judgment, Justice Nganjiwa sentenced James Terry and Gift Ezewu Godfrey to two years’ imprisonment each, with an option of a N300,000 fine.
Obidi Peter Obi, Victor Ataria Sule, Jubril Abubakar, Auwal Aliyu, Nnaemeka Nwobodo and Victor Edem were each sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a N300,000 fine.
Similarly, Sunday Ndem Eyere received a three-year jail term with an option of a N400,000 fine, while Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with an option of a N350,000 fine.
The EFCC said the defendants were prosecuted following their arrest based on intelligence from the Office of the National Security Adviser concerning their suspicious activities in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
One of the charges, specifically against Victor Edem Udo, alleged that he dealt in automotive gas oil (AGO), also known as diesel, which was not of the expected quality, contrary to Section 1(18)(a)(ii) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The commission said the defendants’ arrest and subsequent prosecution followed investigations into their activities in the area.
