Olukoyede denies forcing NNPC boss to resign

Olukoyede denies forcing NNPC boss to resign

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has refuted claims that he compelled Bayo Ojulari to step down from his role as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The claims arose from an online article on August 2, 2025, which claimed that Olukoyede and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi, coerced Ojulari into signing a resignation letter during a closed-door meeting in Abuja.

According to the story, Ojulari was also questioned about his alleged ties to British-Nigerian oil mogul Olatimbo Ayinde, who is said to be close to key figures in the current administration.

In a follow-up story, the news site stated that Ojulari was later invited to the Presidential Villa, where First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu reportedly opposed his resignation.

In response to the charges, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale released a statement on Wednesday on behalf of the Commission, stating that Olukoyede, through his legal counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), described the publications as defamatory and damaging to his reputation.

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“The publications and the imputations conveyed by them are so damning and cannot be ignored or treated with levity,” the statement quoted.

Olukoyede disputed that he was acting at the request of Ayinde or that his actions were influenced by outside political leaders.

Olumide-Fusika’s letter to the publication’s editor emphasised the gravity of the charges and called for corrective action.

“He, therefore, demanded that the medium acknowledge your wrongdoing, expressly admit that what you published and imputed against my client is false, apologise for it unreservedly and retract and pull down the stories from your newspaper website and social media handles,” the statement added.

Olukoyede stated that the report portrayed him as “someone that has betrayed and subverted public trust by submitting the authority of his public office and trust as Chairman of the EFCC to the dictates and directives of one Olatimbo Ayinde.”

Olukoyede called the news “completely fabricated” and demanded an official apology as well as the complete removal of the material from the outlet’s digital platforms within 48 hours.

His legal team warned that failing to cooperate would result in litigation.

Olukoyede denies forcing NNPC boss to resign