NNPCL Boss Bayo Ojulari Allegedly Pressured Into Resignation Under Questionable Circumstances
Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has reportedly been compelled to sign a resignation letter under controversial and coercive circumstances. This allegation was made public in a detailed report released by Peoples Gazette on Saturday.
According to information obtained by the news outlet, the incident allegedly took place on Friday. Sources familiar with the matter claimed that Mr. Bayo Ojulari was intercepted and brought into a tense meeting where he was pressured into resigning. The individuals said to have orchestrated the situation include the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Adeola Ajayi.
Was Bayo Ojulari been forced?
Multiple insiders, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, revealed that during the meeting, Bayo Ojulari was subjected to a series of intense interrogations. The main focus of the questioning reportedly centered on his knowledge—or lack thereof—regarding Olatimbo Ayinde, a British-Nigerian oil industry executive. Ayinde has recently drawn significant attention for her rapidly increasing influence within President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Nigerian oil and gas sector at large.
One of the sources told Peoples Gazette: “Mr. Bayo Ojulari kept insisting that he had no personal or professional connection with Olatimbo Ayinde.” Despite his consistent denials, the situation reportedly escalated to the point where he was made to sign a letter resigning from his position as head of the NNPCL.
Unclear Concerns about the case of Bayo Ojulari
As of the time of publication, there has been no official statement from the EFCC in response to the allegations. When contacted, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, had not issued any comment or clarification on the matter. Similarly, Mr. Bayo Ojulari himself did not respond to multiple requests for comment, and attempts to reach him on Saturday afternoon proved unsuccessful.
This latest development comes amid heightened tension and scrutiny surrounding the leadership of NNPCL. In recent weeks, the state-owned oil corporation has publicly expressed concern over what it describes as ongoing attempts to undermine and destabilize its executive management. The alleged incident involving Bayo Ojulari appears to lend further weight to these concerns, suggesting that internal power struggles and political maneuvering may be threatening the stability of Nigeria’s most critical national asset.
As the situation continues to unfold, stakeholders within the oil and gas industry—as well as the broader Nigerian public—await further clarification and official responses from the relevant government agencies and individuals involved. The apparent lack of transparency and the grave implications for governance, rule of law, and due process have raised alarm bells, adding another layer of complexity to Nigeria’s already volatile energy sector.
