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 the alleged theft of more than 13 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.
The defendants — Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam and Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, both crew members of the vessel, along with Mr. Vincent Wayas, a staff member of GMO, an inspectorate firm representing NNPC — are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
According to the EFCC, the defendants conspired to steal 13,354,000 litres of PMS, an offence said to be contrary to Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under Section 287 of the same Act.
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 alleges that on or about January 17, 2024, the defendants dishonestly took nine million litres of PMS belonging to NNPC Retail Limited, while a separate count accuses them of stealing an additional three million litres of the product.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional centre, arguing that they posed a flight risk and had nothing to lose if they absconded.
However, defence counsel informed the court that bail applications had already been filed and requested that the defendants be allowed to remain on the administrative bail earlier granted to them by the EFCC, noting that they had not violated the terms.
Justice Dada ordered that the defendants continue on the existing bail conditions and adjourned the case to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
