The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three men and a vessel, MT Ostria, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly stealing over 25 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.
The defendants — Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas — were arraigned alongside MT Ostria on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
According to the EFCC, the accused persons conspired to steal a total of 25,354,000 litres of petrol, offences contrary to 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 alleged that in January 2024, the defendants conspired to steal 13,354,000 litres of petrol belonging to NNPC Retail Limited. Other counts accused them of dishonestly taking additional quantities of 9 million and 3 million litres of PMS on or about January 17, 2024, within Lagos jurisdiction.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility, arguing that they posed a flight risk and might abscond if granted bail.
However, defence counsel informed the court that bail applications had already been filed and pleaded that the defendants be allowed to remain under the existing EFCC administrative bail.
Justice Dada granted the request, ordering that the defendants continue under the existing bail conditions, and adjourned the matter to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
