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Again CSOs protest, accuse NNPCL’s Ojulari of corruption, embezzlement

Published

2 months ago

August 1, 2025

Joel Ajayi

A coalition of civil society groups, including OilWatch Nigeria and Workers’ Rights Alliance, held a press conference at the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, July 31, 2025, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

The coalition alleged that Ojulari was implicated in a massive corruption scandal involving ₦34.65 billion, equivalent to $21 million. According to the group, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has already detained Abdullahi Bashir Haske, a close associate of Ojulari, who confessed to holding the $21 million on Ojulari’s behalf.

The press conference was jointly signed by the trio of Emmanuel Ekpeyong representing OilWatch Nigeria; Danladi Usman from Workers’ Right Alliance and Babatunde Anifowoshe of Nigeria Concerned Citizens. The coalition also announced a three-day peaceful protest starting August 1, 2025, at the National Assembly, NNPCL Headquarters, and the EFCC office in Abuja.

“We will not stand idly by while one individual’s greed tarnishes our collective future,” said Emmanuel Ekpeyong of OilWatch Nigeria. “The evidence against Ojulari is damning, and the EFCC must act swiftly to bring him to justice.”

The coalition also accused Ojulari of living an extravagant lifestyle, residing in the lavish Presidential Suite of the Wells Carlton Hotel, and using shell companies to siphon funds through inflated contracts and kickbacks.

The group is urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption by supporting the EFCC’s efforts to arrest and prosecute Ojulari and removing him from his position as NNPCL CEO.

As the nation waits with bated breath for accountability, one thing is clear: the fight against corruption has reached a critical juncture. Will justice be served, or will the powerful once again escape accountability? Only time will tell,” the coalition stressed.

The statement reads in full: We, the coalition of OilWatch Nigeria, Workers’ Rights Alliance, and concerned citizens, stand united today to confront a grave injustice that threatens the soul of our nation and undermines the credibility of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

We are here to demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr. Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), who has been directly implicated in a massive corruption scandal.

His actions have plunged Nigeria into a crisis of trust and economic sabotage, and we will not stand idly by while one individual’s greed tarnishes our collective future. The evidence against Ojulari is damning, and the EFCC must act swiftly to bring him to justice.

Bayo Ojulari’s Implication in a $21 Million Scandal

The recent detention of Abdullahi Bashir Haske by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for three days has exposed a staggering corruption scandal at the heart of NNPCL. Haske, a close associate of Ojulari, confessed to the EFCC that the $21 million found in his account—equivalent to approximately ₦34.65 billion at the current exchange rate of ₦1,650 to $1—belongs to Bayo Ojulari.

Let us be clear: this is not a trivial sum. Thirty-four billion, six hundred and fifty million naira is an obscene amount of money, enough to fund critical infrastructure, healthcare, or education for millions of Nigerians. Yet, this fortune was allegedly stashed in an account that previously held a mere $5,000 (₦8.25 million). This revelation alone demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of Bayo Ojulari to uncover the full extent of his illicit dealings and ensure justice for the Nigerian people.

Further Allegations Against Bayo Ojulari
Extravagant Lifestyle at Wells Carlton: While Nigerians struggle to afford basic necessities, Ojulari resides in the lavish Presidential Suite of the Wells Carlton Hotel alongside Haske. This ostentatious lifestyle, funded by questionable means, is a gross betrayal of public trust and a clear indication of ill-gotten wealth.

Damage to Tinubu’s Administration: Ojulari’s actions are inflicting irreparable harm on President Tinubu’s reputation. His leadership at NNPCL has fostered a culture of corruption, eroding public confidence in the government’s commitment to transparency. Allowing him to remain free sends a dangerous signal that corruption is tolerated at the highest levels.

Shell Companies and Contract Fraud: Ojulari is accused of orchestrating the use of shell companies to siphon funds through inflated contracts and kickbacks. Haske’s testimony allegedly exposes a network of illicit transactions tied to NNPCL’s operations, with ₦34.65 billion being just the tip of the iceberg.

Cronyism and Abuse of Power: Ojulari has filled key NNPCL positions with unqualified loyalists, sidelining competent professionals and prioritizing personal gain over national interest. This cronyism has crippled NNPCL’s efficiency and deepened public distrust, particularly among oil workers.

Obstruction of Justice: Credible reports suggest Ojulari has actively interfered with EFCC investigations to shield his allies, delaying justice and allowing corrupt practices to flourish. Such actions are an affront to the rule of law and demand his immediate arrest.

Our Demands: We call on the EFCC to immediately arrest and prosecute Bayo Ojulari for his alleged role in the ₦34.65 billion scandal and other corrupt practices. The evidence provided by Haske’s confession is sufficient to warrant his detention and a thorough investigation into his financial dealings, including the source of the $21 million and his involvement in NNPCL’s questionable contracts. We also demand that President Tinubu sack Ojulari from his position as NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption and restore public confidence in his administration.
The magnitude of this scandal—₦34.65 billion stolen from the Nigerian people—cannot be overstated.

This is money that could have built hospitals, schools, or roads, or ensured fair wages and safety for oil workers, yet it was allegedly funneled into private hands under Ojulari’s watch. Justice must be swift, transparent, and uncompromising.

Call to Action: Three Days of Protest
To press home our demands, we announce a three-day peaceful protest starting tomorrow, August 1, 2025, at the National Assembly, NNPCL Headquarters, and the EFCC office in Abuja. These protests, led by Oil Watch Nigeria and Workers’ Rights Alliance, will send a clear message to the authorities: Nigerians, especially those in the oil sector and workers across the nation, will not tolerate corruption on this scale. We will march until Bayo Ojulari is arrested, prosecuted, and removed from office.

A Message to President Tinubu
Mr. President, your administration promised renewed hope for Nigerians. Allowing Bayo Ojulari to evade justice undermines that promise and risks further economic sabotage and public unrest. We urge you to act decisively by supporting the EFCC’s efforts to arrest and prosecute Ojulari and by removing him from NNPCL immediately. Your legacy depends on your commitment to rooting out corruption, starting with this case.

Conclusion
The fight for a corrupt-free Nigeria, where our oil wealth benefits all and workers’ rights are protected, is a collective responsibility. We call on all Nigerians—youth, women, oil workers, and patriots—to join OilWatch Nigeria and Workers’ Rights Alliance in these protests and demand justice. Together, we can hold our leaders accountable and build a nation where integrity and fairness prevail. We thank the press for amplifying our voice and the Nigerian people for standing with us. Bayo Ojulari must be arrested, prosecuted, and sacked, and we will not rest until justice is served for the ₦34.65 billion scandal and beyond.

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Tin City Warms Up for President Tinubu as North Central Embraces Renewed Hope

Published

1 day ago

October 4, 2025

The Gleamer

By Sunday Dare

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu berths on the plains and rolling hills that dominate the Jos landscape tomorrow, he will meet a people resourceful, friendly and resilient but weighed down by conflict, yet unbowed by adversity.

So, tommorrow, national attention turns to the Plateau- a locale laden with history and rich with potential. From the tin mines that gave the city of Jos its name, to the Irish potato, strawberry farms and beetroot plantations that dot its landscape, Jos remains a land of promise—truly the Home of Peace and Tourism.

Jos is also deeply woven into Nigeria’s political history. Plateau is home to towering figures such as Generals JD Gomwalk, Yakubu Gowon, John Shagaya, Joshua Dogoyaro, and Jerry Useni. Solomon Lar, Senator Ibrahim Mantu and numerous others also stand tall in the annals Plateau political history.

Jos was also the rallying ground of the famed Langtang Mafia—a group of influential military officers from Langtang in Plateau State who, at the height of their power, played a significant role in Nigeria’s political and military affairs.

The story of Jos is both exciting and excruciating. The city lost its innocence some two and a half decades ago, when the popular Terminus Market was reduced to rubble through acts of arson and looting.

Thus at the turn of the millennium by 2001, Jos—and by extension, Plateau—was thrown into a cycle of unending conflict. Ethnic tensions, clothed in religious garb, tore through the city and spread across the state, dragging Jos into an abyss of violence, almost of Kigali proportions. Peace gave way to war, and tourism jaunts became undertakings to the undertaker.

Yet Jos has never surrendered. Every time it is written off, it rises again—scarred, but resilient. With its multi-ethnic, multi-religious fabric, the Plateau continues to trudge on in pursuit of peace, development, and egalitarian ideals.

It was here, in Jos, that Nigeria’s democratic resurgence was birthed. The historic SDP convention, where late General Shehu Yar’Adua and Chief Moshood Abiola held sway, took place in this city. Jos gave political life to Abiola, our hero of democracy in 1992

Now, thirty three years later, another hero of democracy and of the June 12 struggle returns to the Plateau. President Tinubu’s return and visit to Plateau State is not just to honor the transition to glory of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, the mother of the APC National Chairman.

It is a visit that carries deeper meaning—one of empathy, solidarity, and renewed hope for a people who have endured decades of turmoil. It is a mission to preach peace, console the bereaved, bind wounds, and assure Plateau of its central place in the Nigerian project.

Mr President comes not just to mourn, but to reconnect. He comes to parley with the North Central, to commiserate with a people who have suffered, and to extend the hand of renewed hope. That Renewed Hope is laying a solid foundation as evidenced by Naira at N1,455 per dollar, rising Foreign Reserves at $43bn, Trade surplus heading for N25tr. Revenues up 411% and Inflation down to about 20 per cent. Over 600,000 students benefiting from NELFUND.

This visit is more than ceremonial. It is a journey into the very soul of a people who have known pain, yet remain resilient; a land scarred by conflict, yet still brimming with hope and promise. As the Tin City opens its arms, Jos will not just receive the President—it will receive a message of solidarity, healing, and renewal.

Tomorrow is about remembering the glorious past, confronting the present, and charting a path to a peaceful and prosperous Plateau within a united Nigeria. With President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Jos once again stands at the intersection of history and destiny.

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