Uncertainty surrounds NNPCL GCEO Bayo Ojulari amid rumoured EFCC probe, resignation

The fate and current whereabouts of Engineer Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), have become subjects of intense speculation and official silence, following unconfirmed reports that he was forced to resign amid allegations of misconduct.

Over the weekend, multiple media sources claimed that Ojulari’s exit from NNPCL was not voluntary, suggesting that he was compelled to resign under pressure from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is allegedly investigating him for undisclosed infractions. Some reports even speculated that he had been taken into custody by the anti-graft agency.

However, attempts to verify these claims have been met with a wall of silence from both the EFCC and NNPCL. As of Monday, the EFCC has neither confirmed nor denied Ojulari’s arrest or involvement in any active investigation.

A source within the agency told reporters that a petition against Ojulari had been submitted and was under review, but stopped short of providing further details.

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Ojulari’s tenure at NNPCL has been marred by controversies since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, following the ouster of Mele Kyari.

His sudden disappearance from public view and the lack of official clarification have further deepened the mystery surrounding his leadership and potential exit.

Fueling the information vacuum is the absence of a substantive Chief Corporate Communications Officer (CCCO) at NNPCL.

Since the resignation of Olufemi Soneye from the role, the company has yet to appoint a successor, leaving journalists and the public without credible channels for official communication.

“The silence from the company, in whatever way we look at it, is not helpful for our work,” one frustrated journalist noted. “No matter how strong your sources are, credibility still hinges on some level of official confirmation. We can’t continue to rely on unverified claims from unnamed sources.”

The Presidency has also remained tight-lipped, declining to provide any confirmation, denial, or clarification on the situation—a move that critics say undermines transparency in the management of Nigeria’s most strategic state-owned enterprise.

The timing of the unfolding drama is especially notable, as the 2025 edition of the Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE), organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, kicks off today in Lagos.

Stakeholders hope that the conference, which gathers key figures in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, will serve as a platform for addressing the growing concerns about Ojulari’s status and the stability of leadership at NNPCL.