EFCC Cracks Down On Illegal Oil Dealers As Warri Court Sentences 10
By BLESSING AGWE ODUGO
THE Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has convicted and sentenced ten persons for illegal dealings in petroleum products following their prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice H.A. Nganjiwa delivered the judgment on Friday 6 November 2026, after all ten defendants pleaded guilty to the charges filed against them by the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate.
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 faced a one-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products. One of the charges specifically concerned Victor Edem Udo, who allegedly dealt in Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel, that failed to meet the expected quality standard.
The offence reportedly occurred around 8 August 2026, at Koko in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. Prosecutors brought the charge under Section 1(18)(a)(ii) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2004.
Following the defendants’ guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
In his ruling, Justice Nganjiwa sentenced James Terry and Gift Ezewu Godfrey to two years’ imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine.
Meanwhile, Obidi Peter Obi, Victor Ataria Sule, Jubril Abubakar, Auwal Aliyu, Nnaemeka Nwobodo and Victor Edem each received three-year prison sentences, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine.
The court also sentenced Sunday Ndem Eyere to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦400,000 fine. Similarly, Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi received a three-year sentence, with an option of a ₦350,000 fine.
According to the EFCC, intelligence from the Office of the National Security Adviser triggered the investigation. The information reportedly linked the defendants to suspicious activities involving petroleum products in Koko.
Consequently, EFCC operatives arrested the suspects and commenced investigations before prosecuting them. Their guilty pleas eventually led to the convictions and sentences.
