Thirteen individuals, including an Indian national, were on Tuesday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged diversion of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, valued at over ₦4 billion.
The accused persons—comprising employees of Dangote Industries Limited and representatives of third-party logistics firms—allegedly conspired to illegally siphon millions of litres of AGO between 2022 and 2023. The operation was reportedly disguised as legitimate fuel deliveries to Dangote’s industrial facilities.
The ongoing legal proceedings have cast a spotlight on alleged lapses in corporate oversight within Nigeria’s energy logistics sector, raising broader concerns about accountability in one of the country’s most critical industries.
Among those arraigned is Tukur Shamsudden, an Indian national accused of coordinating the diversion through three logistics firms: Regal Gate Ltd, Alkham Limited, and Prestige Limited—each reportedly contracted by Dangote Industries. According to prosecutors, Shamsudden allegedly diverted over 1.5 million litres of AGO, estimated at more than ₦1.5 billion, under the pretext of fulfilling haulage agreements.
Another defendant, Omojowo Emmanuel, Managing Director of Opetrus Global Ltd, is accused of diverting approximately 2.45 million litres of AGO—worth about ₦2.45 billion—just days before the close of 2023.
“These individuals were trusted to move fuel from depots to refinery plants. Instead, they orchestrated a diversion scheme of significant scale,” said prosecutor M.Y. Bello during the re-arraignment of all 13 defendants, following an amendment to the charge sheet.
Five of the suspects are said to be logistics personnel within Dangote Petroleum Industries Ltd who allegedly used their positions to facilitate the scheme undetected for nearly two years.
The alleged offences violate Sections 21(a) and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are also punishable under provisions of both the Criminal Code Act and the Money Laundering Act, according to the prosecution.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case has been adjourned until July 22 and 23, 2025, for trial.
While fuel theft remains a persistent issue in Nigeria—Africa’s largest oil producer—the scope and complexity of the alleged scheme have attracted particular attention, especially given the involvement of high-ranking private sector operatives.
“This is not just a case of theft. It’s a failure of internal control within one of Africa’s biggest conglomerates,” said an industry analyst who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case. “There are systemic implications here for trust in private-sector fuel management.”
Dangote Industries Limited has yet to issue a public statement regarding the arraignment or the implicated employees. It also remains unclear whether any internal disciplinary measures have been initiated.
