AEF demands clarification on alleged NNPCL coercion amid EFCC, DSS denials
The Arewa Economic Forum (AEF) has publicly urged the Federal Government to provide an official explanation regarding reports that Bashir B. Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was pressured to resign.
This comes after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) both denied any involvement in the matter.
The controversy began with media reports alleging that operatives from the EFCC and DSS abducted Ojulari and forced him to sign a resignation letter on a Friday night. The AEF, a prominent Northern-based think tank, expressed significant concern, stating that such actions, if true, would be a major threat to due process and the integrity of national institutions.
In a statement signed by Chairman Malam Shehu Ibrahim Dandakata, the AEF emphasized its support for accountability but condemned unlawful procedures.
READ ALSO: NNPCL boss Ojulari allegedly forced to sign resignation letter
The statement read, “If there are credible allegations against Mr. Ojulari, they should be addressed through the appropriate legal and administrative channels, not through secrecy, coercion, or orchestrated media leaks.”
Ojulari, who was appointed in April 2025, is one of the few key figures from Northern Nigeria in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic team. He is widely credited with bringing professionalism and reform to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The AEF warned that uncertainty in this critical sector could destabilize economic planning, hurt investor confidence, and damage Nigeria’s global reputation.
The forum is now calling on the government and relevant authorities to issue a definitive statement about Ojulari’s employment status. It argues this is crucial for maintaining public trust and demonstrating the government’s commitment to transparent and lawful governance.
The AEF also asked all parties to avoid actions that could undermine national unity or unfairly cast suspicion on the country’s anti-graft agencies.
READ ALSO: Senate issues 3-week deadline to NNPCL to respond to ₦210 trillion audit queries
Meanwhile, officials from both the EFCC and the DSS have strongly refuted the claims. Speaking to PRNigeria, officials from both agencies dismissed the reports of Ojulari’s abduction or forced resignation as “false and unfounded.”
An anonymous senior EFCC official confirmed that a petition had been filed against the NNPCL boss but clarified that Ojulari was never interrogated or pressured to resign.
A DSS source also stated that the agency respects the rule of law and human rights and would not engage in illegal activities against any citizen.
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