The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, arraigned a vessel, MT Ostria, and three individuals before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over allegations of stealing more than 13 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.
The accused persons — Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, both officials of the vessel, and Mr. Vincent Wayas, a staff member of GMO, an inspection firm representing the NNPC — were docked on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
According to the EFCC, the defendants conspired to divert and steal 13,354,000 litres of PMS, in violation of Sections 411 and 280 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 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 Thirteen Million, Three Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand (13,354,000) litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited.”
Another count accuses the defendants of dishonestly taking 9,000,000 litres of PMS belonging to NNPC Retail Limited on or about January 17, 2024, while a separate charge alleges the theft of another 3,000,000 litres of the same product.
All the defendants, including the vessel, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecuting counsel, 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 if granted bail.
However, the defence teams countered, informing the court that bail applications had already been filed.
They also requested that the defendants be allowed to remain on the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC, noting that they had fully complied with its conditions.
Justice Mojisola Dada granted the defendants’ request, ordering that they continue under the existing EFCC bail terms.
The case was adjourned to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
