The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) has arraigned a vessel, MT Ostria, alongside three people earlier than Justice Mojisola Dada of the Particular Offences Court docket 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 Restricted.
The defendants, Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas have been arraigned on a four-count cost bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
Panaligam and Villarin have been mentioned to be officers of the vessel, whereas Wayas is an worker of GMO, an inspection agency representing NNPC.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired to steal 13,354,000 litres of PMS, opposite to Sections 411 and 280 of the Prison Legislation of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable underneath Part 287 of the identical regulation.
A part of the cost learn that, “MT Ostria, Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas, someday 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 Restricted.”
The EFCC additionally alleged that on or about January 17, 2024, the defendants “dishonestly took 9 million litres of PMS, property of NNPC Retail Restricted.” A separate rely additional accuses them of stealing a further three million litres of the identical product.
All defendants pleaded not responsible to all rely.
Following their plea, the EFCC counsel, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, prayed the courtroom to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending trial, arguing that they posed a flight danger and had nothing to lose in the event that they absconded. She additionally urged the courtroom to disclaim them bail and repair a date for trial.
Nonetheless, the defence counsel knowledgeable the courtroom that formal bail purposes had already been filed and requested that the defendants be allowed to stay on the executive bail beforehand granted by the EFCC, noting that that they had complied totally with the situations.
Justice Dada granted the request, permitting the defendants to proceed on the prevailing EFCC bail phrases, and adjourned the case to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the graduation of trial.
Lately, Fred Ajudua, who’s standing trial earlier than Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos Particular Offences Court docket sitting in Ikeja, filed a recent bail software, citing his ongoing remedy on the Lagos College Instructing Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, as the rationale for his absence in courtroom yesterday.
The courtroom had fastened Wednesday for the continuation of the trial.
Nonetheless, when the case was referred to as, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), knowledgeable the courtroom that the Ikoyi Medium Correctional Centre had written a letter to substantiate that the defendant was receiving medical remedy at LUTH.
Ojo additional advised the courtroom that, following the Supreme Court docket judgment delivered on Could 9, 2025, which revoked Ajudua’s bail and upheld Justice Dada’s earlier refusal to grant him bail, the defendant voluntarily surrendered to the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC).
He mentioned: “My Lord, I’m conscious that the Correctional Centre has written a letter to the courtroom confirming the defendant’s remedy at LUTH.
“After the Supreme Court docket delivered its judgment on Could 9, 2025, in full compliance with the choice, the defendant, upon studying the ruling on-line, voluntarily surrendered himself to the EFCC at its Abuja headquarters on Could 13, 2025.
“He was accompanied by Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District within the Nationwide Meeting. I personally led them to the EFCC workplace, regardless that we had but to acquire a Licensed True Copy (CTC) of the judgment.”
