Federal prosecutors in Ethiopia have officially filed corruption charges against 13 individuals, including high-ranking government officials and prominent business figures, in connection with illegal fuel distribution and contraband activities. The suspects are accused of aggravating national fuel shortages and causing a combined financial loss to the state exceeding 70 million ETB. Among the high-profile defendants are Mr. Dibara Fufa, Deputy Director General of the Petroleum and Energy Authority, Mr. Shumalem Birhane, Director General of a fuel supply enterprise, and a well-known individual, Ms. Bereket Worku (famously known as “Bereket Geberewa”).
The first set of charges details a conspiracy involving the top leadership of regulatory bodies and Ms. Bereket Worku. According to the charge sheet, the first three defendants allegedly bypassed official directives to issue unauthorized fuel purchase permits. In collaboration with the seventh defendant, Ms. Worku, they are accused of facilitating the illegal sale of 466,058 liters of white diesel to gold producers. This specific operation alone is reported to have caused a direct loss of 8.4 million ETB to the government treasury.
Further counts in the indictment outline a pattern of systematic resource diversion. The prosecution alleges that the first, sixth, and eighth defendants conspired to grant the eighth defendant access to over 1.2 million liters of fuel without legal justification, resulting in a loss of 22.5 million ETB. Additionally, a third charge was filed against the owner and manager of “Yegna Petroleum” (the ninth defendant), who allegedly obtained a fuel distribution license through illicit means, costing the state another 21.3 million ETB.
The scope of the case extends to the broader disruption of Ethiopia’s energy security. The 11th, 12th, and 13th defendants are charged with violating the national fuel chain system by removing 1.9 million liters of fuel from government oversight. Prosecutors state that this lack of regulation led to an additional financial hit of 17.8 million ETB. By operating outside the legal framework, these individuals allegedly crippled the government’s ability to manage reserves effectively during a period of heightened demand.
The prosecution emphasized that the defendants’ actions went beyond financial theft; they had a direct, negative impact on the daily lives of Ethiopian citizens. The charge asserts that the abuse of power and the diversion of fuel to the black market were primary drivers of the chronic fuel shortages and the long queues seen at gas stations across the country. By prioritizing personal gain over public service, the officials are accused of destabilizing a critical sector of the national economy and causing significant public distress.
The Federal High Court has formally received the charges and is moving forward with the judicial process. All 13 defendants remain under the jurisdiction of the court as the legal teams prepare their arguments. To ensure a fair trial and allow the defense to respond to the heavy allegations, the court has adjourned the hearing. The case is scheduled to resume on May 18, 2026 at which time the court will hear preliminary objections from the defendants’ legal representatives.