Court Jails 10 for Illegal Petroleum Dealing in Delta

​WARRI — The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has handed down prison sentences to ten individuals following a high-profile crackdown on illegal petroleum racketeering. Presiding Justice H.A. Nganjiwa delivered the judgment, sealing convictions for a one-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and the illicit distribution of sub-standard petroleum products.

​The convicts—identified as James Terry, Gift Ezewu Godfrey, Obidi Peter Obi, Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi, Victor Ataria Sule, Jubril Abubakar, Auwal Aliyu, Nnaemeka Nwobodo, Victor Edem Udo, and Sunday Ndem Eyere—faced trial brought forward by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

​Intelligence-Led Crackdown in Koko

​According to court filings, the operation that unmasked the syndicate stemmed from critical intelligence reports provided by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The intelligence pinpointed suspicious underground activities centered around Koko, located within the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

​On or about August 8, 2026, operatives zeroed in on the network. Court charge sheets specifically highlighted that one of the primary suspects, Victor Edem Udo, engaged in the commercial distribution of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO)—commonly known as diesel—that failed to meet expected quality standards. Such substandard distribution undermines economic stability and poses severe safety risks to machinery and consumers alike.

​Guilty Pleas and Sentencing Breakdown

​Facing overwhelming evidence presented by the anti-graft agency, all ten defendants opted to plead guilty to the charges. Following their plea, EFCC prosecution counsel Francis Jirbo prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants in accordance with the law.

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​Delivering his ruling, Justice Nganjiwa emphasized the gravity of economic sabotage plaguing the nation’s energy sector. The convicts received varying terms of imprisonment with corresponding option-of-fine provisions under Section 1(18)(a)(ii) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2004:

• ​James Terry & Gift Ezewu Godfrey: Sentenced 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, & Victor Edem: Sentenced to three years imprisonment each, with an option of a N300,000 fine each.

• ​Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi: Sentenced to three years imprisonment, with an option of a N350,000 fine.

• ​Sunday Ndem Eyere: Sentenced to three years imprisonment, with an option of a N400,000 fine.

​The successful prosecution marks another victory for federal anti-corruption and security agencies collaborating to dismantle illegal bunkering networks and protect the downstream petroleum sector from economic predation.