The Presidency has denied a report claiming that President Bola Tinubu has sacked, or directed, Bayo Ojulari to resign as Group Chief Executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL).
An online report published yesterday alleged that Ojulari was detained on Friday and coerced into signing a resignation letter by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Adeola Ajayi.
According to the earlier report, sources within national security circles described the move as “a coup d’état”, claiming President Bola Tinubu was not consulted.
The report quoted officials familiar with the development as saying Ojulari was questioned about possible links to a British-Nigerian oil businesswoman, Olatimbo Ayinde, who has reportedly gained influence within the Tinubu administration. “Ojulari told us he didn’t know Olatimbo Ayinde”, one official reportedly disclosed, anonymously.
Appointed by President Tinubu in April, Ojulari was chosen for his expertise in hydrocarbons, having served as a senior executive at Shell Nigeria.
The NNPCL chief has faced criticism in recent weeks over his approval of a company delegation’s trip to an oil and gas conference in Kigali. Reports suggested the trip cost millions of dollars, though the exact figure remains unclear. Ojulari has dismissed the allegations, attributing them to political adversaries.
