The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has denied reports (not by The Telegraph) alleging that he forced the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Bayo Ojulari, to resign.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Olukoyede strongly refuted an article published by the online news platform People’s Gazette, which claimed that he abducted Ojulari and compelled him to resign in Abuja.
Describing the report as false, malicious, and damaging to his reputation, the EFCC chairman demanded a full retraction and public apology from the platform within 48 hours.
While there have been reports of Ojulari’s resignation, neither the NNPCL, its CEO, nor the Presidency has issued an official statement confirming or denying the development.
On Monday—amid the speculation—Ojulari was seen publicly at a Society of Petroleum Engineers event in Lagos, where he spoke on the need for Africa to develop bankable energy projects to secure a sustainable energy future.
Addressing the resignation rumours, Olukoyede condemned the report as “uncharitable” and capable of portraying him as someone who had “betrayed and subverted public trust.”
Through his legal counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), Olukoyede issued a formal letter to People’s Gazette, stating that “the publications and the imputations conveyed by them are so damning and cannot be ignored or treated with levity.”
The letter demanded that the online outlet acknowledge its wrongdoing, admit the published claims were false, and issue an unreserved apology. It also called for the immediate removal of the stories from its website and social media platforms.
Olukoyede’s lawyer warned that failure to comply would result in legal action.
“If you fail to comply with these demands, we shall proceed to file a writ in the tort of defamation to give you the opportunity to prove your allegations—especially given the gravity of the damage to our client’s character and the integrity of the office he occupies as EFCC Chairman,” the letter stated.
