Justice H.A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, on Friday, November 6, 2026, convicted and sentenced ten persons to jail for illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The convicts 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.
They were arraigned on a one-count charge of criminal conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charge against Victor Edem Udo reads: “That you Victor Edem Udo (m) on or about the 8th day of August 2026 at Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did deal in petroleum products (Automotive Gas Oil) AGO which is not of the quality expected of the product and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(18)(a)(ii) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2004.”
Upon arraignment, all the defendants pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting the prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Nganjiwa convicted and sentenced James Terry and Gift Ezewu Godfrey to two years imprisonment each or a fine of N300,000 each.
Obidi Peter Obi, Victor Ataria Sule, Jubril Abubakar, Auwal Aliyu, Nnaemeka Nwobodo and Victor Edem were sentenced to three years imprisonment each or a fine of N300,000 each.
Sunday Ndem Eyere bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000, while Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N350,000.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began following their arrest based on intelligence from the Office of the National Security Adviser over their suspicious activities in Koko, Delta State. They were thereafter prosecuted and convicted.