EFCC Grills NNPC Boss Over $20 Million Money Laundering Probe Linked to Atiku’s In-Law

A high-stakes corruption probe is rocking Nigeria’s oil industry as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intensifies investigations into the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bayo Ojulari. The embattled oil executive has reportedly been interrogated three times in two weeks over his alleged role in a $20 million money laundering scheme connected to Abdullahi Haske, a close associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his son-in-law.

Insider sources reveal the EFCC is digging into Ojulari’s financial dealings and long-standing ties to Atiku’s political network. At the center of the probe is a controversial $20 million transfer to Haske, raising red flags among investigators.

Haske, described as a key intermediary between Ojulari and the Atiku family, allegedly played a pivotal role in brokering discreet meetings, organizing private jet flights, and gifting luxury vehicles to the NNPC boss — including a 2025 Limited Edition Toyota Land Cruiser now in Ojulari’s possession.

Authorities are said to be poring over financial documents, phone records, and flight logs that paint a picture of sustained coordination among the trio. Evidence reportedly traces back to 2018, with large cash movements involving Haske and Atiku-linked entities peaking in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections.

Aviation records further indicate that Ojulari and Atiku were frequent co-passengers aboard Haske’s private jet between 2022 and 2024.

This makes Ojulari the first serving GCEO of NNPC Limited to be questioned by the EFCC while in office—just 112 days after his appointment.

The investigation has also brought renewed attention to Ojulari’s controversial track record, including his abrupt exit from Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) over inflated contracts tied to the Bonga FPSO project. Security agencies are said to be revisiting those cases amid the unfolding scandal.

Meanwhile, Haske, the businessman at the center of the storm, was recently granted bail but is reportedly no longer in the country, having allegedly violated bail conditions.

With the 2027 elections on the horizon, analysts warn the case could expose a sophisticated political financing operation involving the state oil firm. Comparisons are already being drawn to past scandals involving high-profile figures such as Aisha Achimugu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

As pressure mounts on both the EFCC and the Presidency, the Ojulari-Atiku saga threatens to become one of the most explosive corruption scandals in the history of Nigeria’s oil sector.