NNPC Chief Bayo Ojulari Clarifies Voluntary Resignation, Dismisses Forced Exit Claims.
Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has firmly denied reports that he was coerced into resigning, asserting that his departure from the role was a voluntary decision made on his own terms. In a statement issued in Abuja on 2 August 2025, Ojulari refuted sensational claims of being “abducted” or forced to step down, describing such allegations as “fiction” better suited to a Nollywood drama than credible journalism.
Ojulari, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in April 2025 following the dismissal of his predecessor Mele Kyari, addressed reports suggesting that operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) had pressured him into signing a resignation letter. “My resignation was a personal decision, submitted through the appropriate channels—not at gunpoint in some spy movie scenario,” he said, injecting humour into his rebuttal. “If I were to be ‘forced out,’ I’d have at least negotiated for a better headline!”
The former NNPCL boss, a mechanical engineer and fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers with decades of experience in the oil and gas sector, also dismissed allegations linking him to a British-Nigerian businesswoman, Olatimbo Ayinde. “I have no personal or professional dealings with her and find it curious that her name keeps appearing in unrelated matters,” he stated, emphasising his commitment to transparency throughout his career.
Ojulari’s resignation comes amid a turbulent period for the NNPCL, marked by allegations of mismanagement and corruption. Civil society groups, including OilWatch Nigeria, have accused him of economic sabotage, citing issues such as the prolonged shutdown of Nigeria’s refineries and a purported $21 million kickback scheme involving oil traders. These claims, alongside protests at the National Assembly and NNPCL headquarters, have fuelled speculation about his exit. However, a coalition of civil society groups has praised Ojulari’s reforms, crediting him with increased profitability and transparent remittances to the Federation Account.
The Presidency has also weighed in, with a source dismissing reports of a forced resignation as “rubbish and false.” President Tinubu’s administration, which tasked Ojulari with enhancing the NNPCL’s operational efficiency, has maintained that he remains the substantive head of the organisation, though his statement confirms his departure. The EFCC, meanwhile, has denied any involvement in an alleged “abduction,” with a source stating that its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, operates formally and would not resort to coercion.
Ojulari’s brief tenure, the shortest in NNPCL’s history, has been a focal point of public discourse, with posts on X reflecting divided sentiments. Some users have speculated about political motives behind the controversy, while others have supported Ojulari’s assertion of a voluntary exit. As Nigeria’s energy sector continues to navigate challenges, Ojulari’s statement underscores his intent to step away honourably, leaving the NNPCL to focus on its mandate of ensuring energy security for the nation.
