Africa-Press – Nigeria. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday arraigned a vessel, MT Ostria, and three persons before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged theft of more than 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 charged alongside the vessel on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants conspired to unlawfully take 25,354,000 litres of PMS, an offence 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 read: “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 Thirteen Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand (13,354,000) litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited.”
Another count stated that the defendants dishonestly took nine million litres of PMS belonging to NNPC Retail Limited on or about January 17, 2024, while a fourth count alleges the theft of an additional three million litres on the same date.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, told the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility, describing them as potential flight risks who might abscond if granted bail.
However, the defence team informed the court that formal bail applications had already been filed and pleaded that the defendants be allowed to remain under the administrative bail conditions previously granted by the EFCC.
In her ruling, Justice Mojisola Dada ordered that the defendants should continue on the existing EFCC bail conditions. She adjourned the case to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
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