By Muhammad Mamman
In a dramatic turn of events, Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), is at the center of a storm following unconfirmed reports that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pressured him to sign a resignation letter on Friday night. Sources describe the alleged operation—reportedly overseen by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and DSS Director-General Adeola Ajayi—as a “civilian coup” lacking presidential approval. The Presidency, however, has firmly dismissed these claims, with Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga asserting on Saturday that Ojulari remains NNPCL’s leader, appointed in April 2025 to spearhead transformative reforms.
The controversy swirls around allegations of a $21 million (₦34.65 billion) corruption scandal. Civil society groups, including OilWatch Nigeria and the Workers’ Rights Alliance, have demanded Ojulari’s arrest, pointing to claims that detained associate Abdullahi Bashir Haske confessed to holding the funds on his behalf. At a fiery press conference on July 31 at EFCC headquarters, the coalition accused Ojulari of economic sabotage, citing Nigeria’s shuttered refineries and alleged privatization schemes. Their outrage has fueled a three-day protest, launched August 1, targeting the National Assembly, NNPCL headquarters, and EFCC offices.
Further allegations point to a $21 million kickback scheme involving oil traders and pipeline contractors, reportedly exposed after Ojulari reassigned fund collection duties, prompting a whistleblower to alert the EFCC. The agency subsequently froze the implicated account. Adding to the scrutiny, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had previously called for probes into ₦500 billion allegedly unremitted by NNPCL to the Federation Account between October and December 2024.
Yet, Ojulari has staunch defenders. Groups like the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives (CGGCI) and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) praise his leadership, highlighting real-time contract monitoring, audits, and stabilized fuel supplies that have slashed petrol station queues. They argue the protests are politically motivated attempts to derail his reforms. Critics, however, point to lavish spending, including a costly Kigali retreat involving private jets, and a toxic work environment driving staff resignations.
The Niger Delta Environmental Justice Coalition (NDEJC) has condemned the alleged EFCC-DSS operation as politically charged, while acknowledging Ojulari’s role in boosting oil production and remittances. As of 9:00 PM Saturday, the EFCC has remained silent, leaving the public grappling with conflicting narratives. Is this a bold anti-corruption move or a high-stakes power grab? The truth remains elusive as Nigeria watches closely.
Efforts to reach EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale for comment were unsuccessful.
