Bayo OjulariPresidency denies claims of forced resignation as civil society protests intensify over alleged corruption; Ojulari’s reform legacy sparks fierce political divide
Nigeria’s oil sector was thrown into turmoil over the weekend following unconfirmed reports that Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was coerced into signing a resignation letter under pressure from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Sources described the alleged operation, reportedly involving EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General Adeola Ajayi, as a “civilian coup” staged without the authorisation of President Bola Tinubu.
However, the Presidency swiftly refuted the claims. Speaking on Saturday, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, insisted that Ojulari remains the substantive head of NNPCL. Ojulari, who was appointed in April 2025 to spearhead sweeping reforms at the state-owned oil firm, has not made any public comment.
The controversy has erupted in the wake of a deepening $21 million (₦34.65 billion) corruption scandal linked to the embattled GMD. According to civil society groups such as OilWatch Nigeria and the Workers’ Rights Alliance, a detained associate, Abdullahi Bashir Haske, allegedly confessed to holding illicit funds on Ojulari’s behalf.
In a press conference held at EFCC headquarters on July 31, the coalition accused Ojulari of economic sabotage, referencing Nigeria’s prolonged refinery shutdowns and alleged plans to privatize NNPCL assets. The groups have since launched a three-day protest, beginning August 1, targeting the National Assembly, NNPCL headquarters, and EFCC offices to demand Ojulari’s arrest and prosecution.
Further allegations include a $21 million kickback scheme involving oil traders and pipeline contractors. Insiders claim this was exposed after Ojulari reassigned fund collection duties, triggering a whistleblower report that led the EFCC to freeze an implicated account.
Ojulari’s leadership has also faced scrutiny over claims of lavish spending, including a high-end executive retreat in Kigali that reportedly involved the use of private jets. Additionally, there have been internal concerns about a toxic work environment, with reports of multiple staff resignations.
Yet, not all voices are calling for his removal. Groups such as the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives (CGGCI) and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) have thrown their support behind Ojulari. They argue that the current campaign against him is politically motivated and intended to halt his reform agenda.
Supporters credit him with launching real-time contract monitoring systems, initiating audits of opaque agreements, and stabilising national fuel supply moves they say have led to shorter queues at petrol stations and increased public trust.
In May, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) also raised red flags over financial discrepancies at NNPCL, urging EFCC and the ICPC to investigate alleged non-remittance of N500 billion between October and December 2024.
As of 9:00pm on Saturday, the EFCC had not issued any official statement confirming Ojulari’s arrest or resignation, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the future of Nigeria’s most powerful oil executive and his ambitious reform efforts.
0 Comments