The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, arraigned a vessel, MT Ostria, alongside three individuals before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged theft of over 13 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit valued at about N12bn said to belong to the 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 the NNPC, were arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

The EFCC prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the defendants conspired amongst themselves and unlawfully stole 13,324,000 litres of PMS belonging to the NNPC Retail Limited.

Buhari said the defendants committed the offences sometime in January 2024 in Lagos.

The prosecutor also alleged that the defendants, on or about January 17, 2024, dishonestly took nine million litres of PMS belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.

They were also accused of stealing an additional three million litres of the same product.

According to the EFCC, the offences committed contravened Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and are punishable under Section 287 of the same law.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to them.

Following their plea, Buhari urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional centre pending the commencement of the trial.

She argued that the defendants posed a flight risk and had nothing to lose if they absconded,

Buhari also urged the court to deny them bail and fix an early trial date.

However, the defence counsel informed the court that the defendants had already been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had faithfully complied with all its conditions.

They therefore prayed the court to allow the defendants to remain on the existing bail terms.

In a brief ruling, Justice Dada allowed the defendants to continue on the EFCC administrative bail conditions and adjourned the matter to November 17, 2025, for the commencement of trial. (The PUNCH)

Update news