Court Jails 10 Persons for Illegal Petroleum Dealings in Delta
By Chibuzo Obidike | IchieTimes
A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has sentenced 10 persons to between two and three years’ imprisonment for illegal dealings in petroleum products.
The convicts were sentenced on Friday, November 6, 2026, by Justice H.A. Nganjiwa after pleading guilty to charges of criminal conspiracy and illegal dealings in petroleum products.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which disclosed the development in a statement on its official X account, identified the convicts as Obidi Peter Obi, James Terry, Gift Ezewu Godfrey, Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi, Victor Ataria Sule, Jubril Abubakar, Auwal Aliyu, Nnaemeka Nwobodo, Victor Edem and Sunday Ndem Eyere.
According to the Commission, the defendants were prosecuted by its Benin Zonal Directorate on a one-count charge.
The EFCC said the investigation followed intelligence from the Office of the National Security Adviser concerning suspicious activities in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The charge against Victor Edem Udo specifically alleged that he dealt in Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, which was not of the expected quality, at Koko on August 8, 2026.
Following the defendants’ guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
In its judgment, the court 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.
Sunday Ndem Eyere received three years’ imprisonment, 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 prosecution followed the arrest of the defendants based on intelligence received from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The Commission added that the suspects were subsequently prosecuted and convicted for the offences.
