NNPC Witness Testifies in MT Ostria Petrol Theft Case

On April 14, 2026, a witness from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) testified in the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, against the vessel MT Ostria and its crew, including Captain Raymundo Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Vincent Waya. They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 29, 2025, facing four counts of conspiracy to steal 25,354,000 litres of premium motor spirit (petrol).

The witness detailed the sequence of events leading to the investigation, revealing discrepancies in the discharge operations of the vessel. The NNPC official explained that the ship received a termination order to halt its operations, prompting immediate action from relevant government agencies, including the EFCC.

The court admitted documents that established the commercial chain of transactions involving the NNPC, confirming the sale of approximately 20.3 million litres of petrol transported via MT Ostria. The matter was adjourned until April 15, 2026, for continued cross-examination.