“Ojulari still in office” – Presidency source
A source in the Presidency has dismissed viral reports claiming that the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, has resigned.
The top Presidency source, who spoke on Saturday, described the claims as “false and rubbish,” insisting that Ojulari remains in office and continues to perform his duties.
The reports, which gained traction online, alleged that Ojulari was pressured by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into signing a resignation letter amid ongoing investigations. However, the Presidency firmly rejected these claims as unfounded.
Ojulari was appointed in April 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to spearhead reforms in NNPCL aimed at increasing operational transparency, restoring investor confidence, and positioning the company for commercial competitiveness.
His appointment followed the sweeping dissolution of the previous NNPCL board, including former GCEO Mele Kyari and board chairman Pius Akinyelure.
Despite Ojulari’s reform agenda, recent controversies have placed him at the centre of a storm.
Several civil society groups, including OilWatch Nigeria and the Workers’ Rights Alliance, have demanded his arrest over an alleged $21 million corruption scandal.
The accusations claim that Ojulari’s associate, Abdullahi Bashir Haske, who is currently in EFCC custody, confessed to holding the funds on his behalf.
The groups staged a press conference at EFCC headquarters on July 31, accusing Ojulari of economic sabotage, particularly over the prolonged closure of national refineries and alleged moves to privatise critical NNPCL assets.
A three-day protest was launched on August 1 at key government locations, including the National Assembly, NNPCL headquarters, and EFCC offices.
Further allegations include a suspected kickback scheme involving oil traders and contractors, reportedly exposed after changes in how fund collections were handled within NNPCL.
A whistleblower is said to have alerted the EFCC, prompting the freezing of an implicated account.
In May 2025, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) also raised concerns over NNPCL’s alleged failure to remit ₦500 billion to the Federation Account in Q4 2024, urging anti-graft agencies to investigate.
Despite the allegations, Ojulari has received backing from advocacy groups like the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives (CGGCI) and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), who claim the ongoing protests are politically motivated attempts to frustrate the current reform efforts.
These groups applauded several initiatives under Ojulari’s leadership, including enhanced contract transparency, real-time monitoring systems, and improved fuel supply chains that have helped reduce queues at filling stations nationwide.
Meanwhile, some critics have questioned the NNPCL chief’s leadership style, citing alleged extravagant spending including a controversial retreat in Kigali involving private jets and a tense work environment leading to staff resignations.
The Niger Delta Environmental Justice Coalition (NDEJC) also weighed in, criticising the alleged joint operation by the EFCC and DSS as politically driven.
Nonetheless, the group acknowledged Ojulari’s role in stabilising oil production and improving national revenue inflows.
