Reports have surfaced alleging that the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, was pressured into signing a resignation letter by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday night.

Sources who spoke with Vanguard described the incident as a “civilian coup” allegedly carried out without presidential approval, purportedly overseen by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi.

Reacting to the claims, Special Adviser to the President, Bayo Onanuga, denied the reports on Saturday, stressing that Ojulari remains the substantive head of NNPCL.

Naijaonpoint understands that Ojulari was appointed in April 2025 to lead reform initiatives within the oil corporation, including transparency measures and refinery rehabilitation efforts.

The controversy stems from allegations of a $21 million (₦34.65 billion) corruption scandal. Civil society groups, including OilWatch Nigeria and the Workers’ Rights Alliance, have demanded Ojulari’s arrest and prosecution.

The groups cited claims that Abdullahi Bashir Haske, currently detained, allegedly confessed to holding the funds for Ojulari. At a press briefing held at EFCC headquarters on July 31, the coalition accused Ojulari of economic sabotage, linking him to the prolonged shutdown of Nigeria’s refineries and alleged plans to privatise NNPCL assets.

The coalition has launched a three-day protest at the National Assembly, NNPCL headquarters, and EFCC offices, pressing for immediate action against the NNPCL boss.

Additional allegations revolve around a $21 million kickback scheme involving oil traders and pipeline contractors. The scandal reportedly came to light after Ojulari reassigned fund collection responsibilities within NNPCL, prompting a whistleblower to alert EFCC.

The agency subsequently froze the implicated account, intensifying scrutiny of NNPCL’s financial dealings.

In May 2025, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate claims that N500 billion was not remitted by NNPCL to the Federation Account between October and December 2024.

Not all reactions have been against Ojulari. Groups such as the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives (CGGCI) and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) defended the NNPCL boss, suggesting that the protests are politically motivated attempts to derail his reform agenda.

They praised initiatives under Ojulari’s leadership, including real-time monitoring systems, audits of opaque contracts, and steps to stabilise fuel supply, which reportedly reduced queues at filling stations.

Critics have accused Ojulari of extravagant spending, citing a high-cost retreat in Kigali involving private jets. Allegations of a harsh work environment leading to staff resignations have also surfaced.

The Niger Delta Environmental Justice Coalition (NDEJC) criticised the reported EFCC-DSS operation, calling it politically driven, but acknowledged Ojulari’s contributions to improving oil production and boosting remittances to government coffers.

As of 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, EFCC had not issued an official statement confirming Ojulari’s alleged resignation, arrest, or prosecution.