EFCC arraigns three for ‘stealing 25m litres of NNPC petrol’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three suspects over the alleged theft of over 25 million litres of petrol belonging to Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Retail Limited.

The anti-graft agency arraigned the defendants alongside a vessel at the special offences court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

The EFCC accused the suspects of “dishonestly taking 9,000,000 litres of petrol belonging to NNPC Retail Limited and theft of an additional 3,000,000 litres of the same product”.

The defendants are Raymundo Panaligam, Roneno Villarin, and Vincent Wayas.

“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 amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing of Thirteen Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand (13,354,000) litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited,” the count charge reads.

“MT OSTRIA, CAPTAIN RAYMUNDO A. PANALIGAM,CHIEF OFFICER RONENO VILLARI and MR. VINCENT WAYAS on or about 17th January 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly took (Nine Milllon) 9,000,000.00 litres of Premium Motor Spirit Property of NNPC Retall Limited.”

After the defendants took their pleas, Bilikisu Buhari, the prosecuting counsel, asked the court to remand them in a correctional facility.

The EFCC counsel said the defendants have nothing to lose if they jump bail or abscond while asking for a date for the trial.

However, the defence counsel said the defendants’ bail applications have been filed.

The counsel urged the court to allow the defendants to continue with the earlier administrative bail conditions given by the EFCC.

After the arguments, Mojisola Dada, the trial judge, ruled that the defendants should continue on the existing EFCC bail conditions.

She adjourned the case to November 17 and 27 for the commencement of trial.