The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three foreign nationals and a vessel, MT Ostria, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged theft of over 25 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at approximately N12 billion, property of NNPC Retail Limited.
The defendants — Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas — were arraigned on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, alongside the vessel on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
According to the EFCC, the accused persons conspired to steal 25,354,000 litres of PMS, in violation of Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under Section 287 of the same law.
One of the charges 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 among themselves to commit a felony, to wit: stealing 13,354,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited.”
Another charge alleges that the defendants, on or about January 17, 2024, dishonestly took 9 million litres of PMS, while a separate count accuses them of stealing an additional 3 million litres, all belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, prosecuting counsel Bilikisu Buhari requested that the court set a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility, arguing that they were flight risks who might abscond if granted bail.
However, the defence counsel informed the court that bail applications had already been filed and urged the court to allow the defendants to remain under the existing EFCC administrative bail conditions.
In her ruling, Justice Dada upheld the current bail conditions and adjourned the case to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
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