Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has strongly denied allegations that he coerced the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, into resigning from office.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Olukoyede dismissed a report by online news outlet People’s Gazette, which claimed that the anti-graft boss had abducted Ojulari in Abuja and forced him to tender his resignation.
Describing the claims as false, defamatory, and damaging, Olukoyede demanded a full retraction of the story along with a public apology from the publication within 48 hours.
“The report is not only untrue but also deeply uncharitable, painting me as someone who has subverted public trust,” Olukoyede stated.
While rumours about Ojulari’s resignation have circulated, neither the NNPCL, the CEO himself, nor the Presidency has issued any official statement confirming or denying his departure.
Notably, Ojulari appeared publicly on Monday at a Society of Petroleum Engineers event in Lagos, where he urged African nations to develop bankable energy projects for a sustainable energy future.
Olukoyede’s legal counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), has formally written to People’s Gazette, condemning the publication as reckless and defamatory.
“The publications and the imputations conveyed by them are so damning and cannot be ignored or treated with levity,” the lawyer said.
The EFCC Chairman is demanding the outlet:
Acknowledge wrongdoing
Admit the publication is false
Issue an unreserved public apology
Retract and delete the story from its website and all social media platforms
Failure to comply, the letter warns, will result in legal action for defamation, with a writ to be filed in court compelling the platform to prove its allegations.
Olukoyede emphasized his commitment to due process and the rule of law, warning against the spread of false narratives that could undermine the integrity of his office and damage public confidence in the nation’s anti-corruption efforts.
