NNPCL : We have received petition seeking probe of Ojulari – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has received a petition seeking an investigation into the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari.

According to a report by Punch, a top source within the anti-graft commission, who made this known , however denied allegations that EFCC abducted or forced Ojulari to resign, following the speculation about his resignation.

On Saturday, rumours of Ojulari’s alleged interrogation and forced resignation spread on social media, with some reports claiming that he was pressured by the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and the Director General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi, to sign a resignation letter.

However,  speaking  on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, a top EFCC official said : “Those are fake news. It is not true that the EFCC abducted him (Ojulari). On Thursday, protesters came to our office with a petition that they want the commission to investigate the NNPCL chairman.

“These people have the right to submit petitions. We told them we would look into the petition. So, where is the abduction? People should be careful about spreading rumours.”

Similarly,  a top DSS official also dismissed claims that the agency’s Director-General orchestrated a so-called “coup” to unlawfully remove Ojulari from office.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the allegations as unfounded and misleading.

“The DSS is not involved in the allegation. In fact, our boss mentioned in the allegation has no hand in it,” the official said.

However,  some NNPCL inside sources said there were indications that some individuals within the Presidency were uneasy with the leadership style of Ojulari, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in April to replace Mele Kyari, who headed the corporation for six years.

Unlike his predecessor, Ojulari was said to be steering the NNPCL strictly as a commercial enterprise, reportedly resisting pressure from political interests.

His recent dismissal of several top NNPC officials was believed to have unsettled some influential government figures and politicians linked to those affected.

Sources also noted that Ojulari was under suspicion for allegedly maintaining ties with a prominent opposition politician in the country.

However, attempts to obtain an official response from the NNPCL to the rumoured resignation were unsuccessful, as the company has yet to appoint a new spokesperson following the resignation of Olufemi Soneye.

(PUNCH)