The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a vessel, MT Ostria, alongside three individuals before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged theft of over 13 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), valued at about ₦12 billion, belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.

The defendants, Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

Panaligam and Villarin were said to be officials of the vessel, while Wayas is an employee of GMO, an inspection firm representing NNPC.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired to steal 13,354,000 litres of PMS, contrary to Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under Section 287 of the same law.

Part of the charge read that, “MT Ostria, Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas, sometime in January 2024 in Lagos, conspired amongst yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: stealing of 13,354,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited.”

The EFCC also alleged that on or about January 17, 2024, the defendants “dishonestly took nine million litres of PMS, property of NNPC Retail Limited.” A separate count further accuses them of stealing an additional three million litres of the same product.

All defendants pleaded not guilty to all count.

Following their plea, the EFCC counsel, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, prayed the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending trial, arguing that they posed a flight risk and had nothing to lose if they absconded. She also urged the court to deny them bail and fix a date for trial.

However, the defence counsel informed the court that formal bail applications had already been filed and requested that the defendants be allowed to remain on the administrative bail previously granted by the EFCC, noting that they had complied fully with the conditions.

Justice Dada granted the request, allowing the defendants to continue on the existing EFCC bail terms, and adjourned the case to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.

Recently, Fred Ajudua, who is standing trial before Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, filed a fresh bail application, citing his ongoing treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, as the reason for his absence in court yesterday.

The court had fixed Wednesday for the continuation of the trial.

However, when the case was called, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court that the Ikoyi Medium Correctional Centre had written a letter to confirm that the defendant was receiving medical treatment at LUTH.

Ojo further told the court that, following the Supreme Court judgment delivered on May 9, 2025, which revoked Ajudua’s bail and upheld Justice Dada’s earlier refusal to grant him bail, the defendant voluntarily surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He said: “My Lord, I am aware that the Correctional Centre has written a letter to the court confirming the defendant’s treatment at LUTH.

“After the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on May 9, 2025, in full compliance with the decision, the defendant, upon reading the ruling online, voluntarily surrendered himself to the EFCC at its Abuja headquarters on May 13, 2025.

“He was accompanied by Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. I personally led them to the EFCC office, even though we had yet to obtain a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede has warned miners and dealers in precious metals and stones in Nigeria to desist from being used as conduit pipes to launder illicit funds and finance terrorism and refrain from sabotaging the efforts of the federal government geared towards ending insecurity and economic infractions.

Olukoyede also frowned at the gross insensitivity of legitimate miners and dealers in gemstones evident in their negligence in conforming with Know-Your-Customer (KYC) policy and non-reportage of suspicious transactions, thereby undermining the Commission’s efforts in combating money laundering and terrorism financing in Nigeria.