The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned the vessel MT Ostria along with three individuals before the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, over the alleged theft of more than 13 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at approximately N12 billion, reportedly belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.
The defendants – Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam and Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, both crew members of MT Ostria, and Mr. Vincent Wayas, a staff member of GMO, an inspectorate firm representing NNPC – were arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada on a four-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The EFCC prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the defendants conspired among themselves and unlawfully took 13,324,000 litres of PMS belonging to NNPC Retail Limited. Buhari stated that the offences were committed in January 2024 in Lagos.
The prosecutor further alleged that on or about January 17, 2024, the defendants dishonestly took nine million litres of PMS, and later stole an additional three million litres of the product.
According to the EFCC, the offences contravened Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and are punishable under Section 287 of the same law.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges when read to them.
Following the plea, Buhari urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional centre pending trial, arguing that they posed a flight risk and might abscond. She also requested that bail be denied and an early trial date be fixed.
The defence counsel, however, stated that the defendants had already been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had complied fully with its conditions. They prayed the court to allow the defendants to continue on the existing bail terms.
In a brief ruling, Justice Dada allowed the defendants to remain on EFCC administrative bail and adjourned the matter to November 17, 2025, for the commencement of trial.