Bayo Ojulari Denies Involvement in Alleged $1.5m Bribery Scandal

Mr. Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has publicly responded to allegations circulating on social media, which claim he paid a $1.5 million bribe to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Adegboyega Fasasi, and Chief Personal Security Officer (CPSO), Usman Shugaba, in order to gain access to the President.

Describing the reports as entirely baseless, Ojulari dismissed them as “false, ludicrous, malicious, and a product of the authors’ imagination.”

During a media briefing with select journalists on Monday in Abuja, Ojulari expressed both shock and amusement at the claims, which he attributed to individuals with ill intentions toward the country.

“My first reaction when I saw the report was disbelief,” he said. “The allegations are not only wicked and unfounded, they are clearly part of a deliberate campaign by those who do not wish Nigeria well.”

He went on to question the credibility of the report’s authors, suggesting they lacked even a basic understanding of the magnitude of the alleged amount. “They don’t even grasp what $1.5 million represents. This is a coordinated attempt to smear my reputation and that of NNPCL,” he added.

Ojulari also criticized the lack of any concrete evidence behind the accusations, emphasizing that as GCEO of NNPCL, he has direct access to the President and does not require mediation from security aides.

He further stated, “The platform responsible for this fabrication has a known history of publishing fictitious stories. Their record speaks for itself—they are not recognized for credible journalism.”

When asked whether he planned to pursue legal action against the publication, Ojulari confirmed that he was consulting with his legal team.

“I’m in discussions with my lawyers and we’re reviewing the legal options available. Freedom of speech should not be a shield for spreading falsehoods—there must be accountability,” he concluded.

The allegations in question were initially published by SaharaReporters on Sunday, claiming that Ojulari had paid $1.5 million to two presidential security aides in exchange for access to President Tinubu.