The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned a vessel, MT Ostria, along with three individuals before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, over the alleged theft of more than 13 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at about ₦12 billion, said to belong to NNPC Retail Limited.
The defendants — Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin (both crew members of MT Ostria), and Vincent Wayas, a staff member of GMO, an inspection firm representing NNPC — were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired to steal about 13,354,000 litres of petrol, offences said to contravene Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under Section 287 of the same law.
One of the counts reads:
“MT Ostria, Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas, sometime in January 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing of 13,354,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited.”
Another count alleges that on or about January 17, 2024, the defendants dishonestly took 9 million litres of PMS, while another accuses them of stealing an additional 3 million litres of the same product.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending trial, arguing that they posed a flight risk and might abscond.
However, defence counsel informed the court that bail applications had already been filed and requested that the defendants remain under the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC, noting their full compliance with the conditions.
In her ruling, Justice Dada allowed the defendants to continue under the existing EFCC bail terms and adjourned the case to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
