EFCC Arraigns Men, Vessel For Alleged 13-million-litre petrol Theft

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the vessel MT Ostria and three crew members before a Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja for allegedly stealing 13 million litres of petrol.

The EFCC docked the vessel alongside its Captain, Raymundo A. Panaligam, the Chief Officer, Roneno Villarin and an employee of GMO, an inspection firm representing Nigeria nNational Petroleum Company Limited, before Justice Mojisola Dada on  four charges of conspiracy and theft.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the over 13 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) belonged to NNPC Retail Limited.

The EFCC prosecutor, Bilikisu Buhari, informed the judge that the defendants had conspired to steal the products in January 2024 in Lagos, an offence contrary to Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under Section 287 of the same law.

Buhari also claimed that the defendants on or about January 17, 2024, in Lagos, dishonestly stole 9,000,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited.”

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Based on their pleas, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the Nigerian Correctional Services custody defendants pending the commencement of their trial.

The lawyer asked the court to refuse the defendants’ bail applications because they are considered a flight risk and have nothing to lose if they fail to appear in court or abscond.

In response, the defence counsel informed the court that bail applications had already been filed.

He pleaded that the defendants be allowed to continue under the bail conditions previously granted by the EFCC, as they had not defaulted on the terms of their administrative bail.

After listening to the lawyers, Justice Dada ruled that the defendants should continue to enjoy the terms of their existing EFCC bail and adjourned the case to November 17 for the commencement of the trial.