THE fate of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mr Bayo Ojulari, remained unknown last night, as the Presidency and other key agencies of government kept mute over his reported resignation.
The top oil sector operative, who was only appointed to lead the Nigerian oil company in April this year by President Bola Tinubu, is reported to have voluntarily thrown in the towel over some issues which the Presidency is said to have frowned on.
However, the Presidency is yet to make any such allegation against Ojulari at the time of going to press.
An online medium, over the weekend, reported that Ojulari was not only pressurised to resign his appointment over undisclosed issues but was also abducted and threatened by two federal government security agencies to step down.
However, the Department of State Services, DSS, or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, failed to speak on the development, which has continued to generate tension and confusion across the oil industry and Nigeria.
DSS denies involvement in illegal operations
A source, who pleaded anonymity last night, said the DSS hierarchy was miffed by the attempt to link the agency with Ojulari’s fate.
“The DSS has nothing whatsoever to do with the NNPC CEO. Nobody from the agency is involved in any attempt to abduct or arrest Ojulari. Anyone who insinuates that would be promptly charged for defamation,” a source close to the agency warned last night.
The source said the new leadership of the DSS, led by Adeola Tosin Ajayi, does not want to allow any of his operatives to be involved in any form of illegal operation.
Similarly, the EFCC has firmly shied away from making any form of comment on the matter, as efforts made to get the reaction of the agency were rebuffed by those saddled with the responsibility.
A top Presidency official had refused to confirm the resignation or otherwise of Ojulari, arguing that it was not the duty of the President’s office to speak for the NNPC.
The official said he would not make further comment on the matter and advised our reporter to seek out whatever information they needed from the oil company.
VANGUARD
