Intelligence provided by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has led to the conviction of ten persons for illegal dealing in petroleum products by the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State.
Justice H.A. Nganjiwa handed down the judgment on Friday after the defendants pleaded guilty to charges filed by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicted persons 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.
The EFCC charged them with criminal conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products, offences contrary to the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
According to the charge against Victor Edem Udo, he dealt in Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) that failed to meet the expected quality standard, contrary to Section 1(18)(a)(ii) of the Act.
Following their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel Francis Jirbo urged the court to convict and sentence them, a request the court granted.
Justice Nganjiwa sentenced James Terry and Gift Ezewu Godfrey to two years imprisonment each or a N300,000 fine.
Six of the convicts—Obidi Peter Obi, Victor Ataria Sule, Jubril Abubakar, Auwal Aliyu, Nnaemeka Nwobodo and Victor Edem—were each sentenced to three years imprisonment or a N300,000 fine.
Anthony Onyebuchi Edekobi was sentenced to three years imprisonment or a N350,000 fine, while Sunday Ndem Eyere received three years imprisonment or an option of N400,000 fine.
The EFCC disclosed that the suspects were arrested in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State after intelligence from the Office of the National Security Adviser exposed their suspected illegal petroleum activities, leading to their prosecution and eventual conviction.
