The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has sentenced 10 persons to prison for illegal dealings in petroleum products, including substandard Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel. The convictions were secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice H.A. Nganjiwa handed down the sentences on Friday, November 6, 2026, after the defendants pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of criminal conspiracy and illegal dealings in petroleum products. The EFCC's Benin Zonal Directorate prosecuted the case, with counsel Francis Jirbo asking the court to convict and sentence the accused following their guilty pleas.
One charge specifically involved dealing in AGO that did not meet required quality standards. The offence was said to have occurred on August 8, 2026, in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. A charge against Victor Edem Udo cited Section 1(18)(a)(ii) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2004.
The convicted persons are 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.
The court imposed varying terms. James Terry and Gift Ezewu Godfrey each received two years' imprisonment with an option of a N300,000 fine. Obidi Peter Obi, Victor Ataria Sule, Jubril Abubakar, Auwal Aliyu, Nnaemeka Nwobodo and Victor Edem each received three years' imprisonment with an option of a N300,000 fine. Sunday Ndem Eyere was sentenced to three years' imprisonment or a N400,000 fine, while Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi received three years' imprisonment or a N350,000 fine.
The EFCC said the arrests followed intelligence from the Office of the National Security Adviser about suspicious activities in Koko. The defendants were subsequently arrested, investigated and prosecuted.
The convictions come amid intensified enforcement against illegal refining and distribution of petroleum products. On November 3, 2026, the EFCC disclosed that it had uncovered an illegal refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in Ogere, Ogun State, where substances suspected to be AGO were found in underground tanks. Preliminary investigations indicated the operators sourced sludge oil from Warri and Port Harcourt before transporting it to Ogere for processing into diesel for the Nigerian market.
