Court jails 10 persons for illegal dealings in petroleum products in Delta

Ten individuals have been jailed by the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, for their involvement in illicit dealings of petroleum products, including substandard Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the convictions, which were announced on Friday, November 6, 2026. The defendants, who pleaded guilty to charges of criminal conspiracy and illegal petroleum product dealings, received prison sentences ranging from two to three years, with options for fines.

The sentences were handed down by Justice H.A. Nganjiwa, who presided over the case on November 6, 2026. The defendants, including James Terry, Gift Ezewu Godfrey, and others, were prosecuted by the EFCC's Benin Zonal Directorate after their arrest in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, on August 8, 2026. One charge specifically involved the sale of substandard AGO, which failed to meet expected quality standards.

The defendants' arrest was based on intelligence from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). This case is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat illegal refining and distribution of petroleum products in Nigeria. In recent months, the EFCC uncovered an illegal refinery in Ogun State allegedly operated by Chinese nationals, and the Nigerian Navy discovered a suspected illegal refining site in Rivers State containing significant quantities of suspected illegally refined petroleum products.