Sylvester Idowu in Warri
The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State yesterday convicted and sentenced 10 individuals for unlawful dealing in petroleum merchandise.
The convicts have been James Terry, Gift Ezewu Godfrey, Obidi Peter Obi, Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi and Victor Ataria Sule.
Others convicted and sentenced to jail by the courtroom, which was presided over by Justice H.A. Nganjiwa have been Jubril Abubakar, Auwal Aliyu, Nnaemeka Nwobodo, Victor Edem and Sunday Ndem Eyere.
The convicts have been arraigned on a one-count cost of legal conspiracy and unlawful dealing in petroleum merchandise by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The cost towards Victor Edem Udo reads: That you Victor Edem Udo (m) on or concerning the eighth day of August 2026 at Koko, Warri North Local authorities Area of Delta State throughout the jurisdiction of this honourable courtroom did deal in petroleum merchandise ((*10*) Gas Oil) AGO which isn’t of the standard anticipated of the product and thereby dedicated an offence opposite to and punishable below Section 1(18)(a)(ii) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2004.
Upon arraignment, all of the defendants pleaded responsible to their cost, prompting the prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, to wish the courtroom to condemn and convict them accordingly.
Justice Nganjiwa convicted and sentenced James Terry and Gift Ezewu Godfrey to 2 years imprisonment or a positive of N300,000. Obidi Peter Obi, Victor Ataria Sule, Jubril Abubakar, Auwal Aliyu, Nnaemeka Nwobodo, Victor Edem have been sentenced to a few years imprisonment every or a positive of N300,000 every.
Sunday Ndem Eyere bagged three years imprisonment or a positive of N400,000 whereas Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi bagged three years imprisonment or a positive of N350,000.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre started following their arrest primarily based on intelligence from the Office of the National Security Adviser of their suspicious actions in Koko, Delta State.
