EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede Denies Forcing NNPC Boss, Bayo Ojulari To Resign

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has denied reports claiming he forced the CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, to resign.

A report published by People’s Gazette on August 2, 2025, alleged that both Olukoyede and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi, pressured Ojulari to sign a resignation letter during a private meeting in Abuja.

It also suggested that Ojulari was questioned about his alleged ties to British-Nigerian oil tycoon Olatimbo Ayinde, who is believed to have close connections with powerful figures in the current government.

In a follow-up article, the same outlet claimed Ojulari later met with First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, where she reportedly objected to his resignation.

Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale denied People’s Gazette’s report that Olukoyede abducted Ojulari and forced him to resign.

Olukoyede, through his lawyer Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), described the reports as damaging and completely false.

The EFCC boss also demanded a retraction of the story from the online platform and a public apology within 48 hours.

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

He said the publication painted a false picture of him as someone who had abused his position by taking orders from Ayinde or any other political figure.

Olukoyede stressed that he has never acted under anyone’s influence and called the entire story fabricated.

A letter sent to the media outlet’s editor demanded a public apology, a full retraction of the report, and immediate removal of the story from the website and social media platforms.

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

Olukoyede said the story 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.”

The letter made it clear that if the outlet failed to meet these demands within 48 hours, legal action would follow.

Olukoyede said the publication seriously harmed his reputation and integrity, accusing the outlet of undermining public trust in his office.

His lawyer warned that any failure of compliance with his instructions would result in the issuance of a “Writ in the tort of defamation to allow you to prove what your disparagement of my client’s character and reputation, especially in the way of the office he holds as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission”.

KanyiDaily recalls that the EFCC recently arrested top officials of the NNPCL over alleged fraud worth $7.2 billion.