Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has strongly denied allegations circulating online that he coerced the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, into resigning.
The denial was made via a statement from the EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday.
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It refuted a report by online platform People’s Gazette, which claimed the EFCC chief abducted Ojulari and compelled him to quit his position in Abuja.
Olukoyede has demanded that the news outlet retract the publication and issue a public apology within 48 hours.
Although speculations about Ojulari’s resignation have emerged, no official statement has been issued by the NNPCL, the CEO himself, or the presidency.
Ojulari was, however, seen attending a petroleum engineering event in Lagos on Monday, where he called for Africa to develop finance-ready energy projects to guarantee a sustainable future.
Responding to the viral report, the EFCC chairman described it as defamatory and damaging to his integrity and public office.
Olukoyede said his legal representative, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), had communicated with the media outlet, stating that, “the publications and the imputations conveyed by them are so damning and cannot be ignored or treated with levity”.
He called on the platform to publicly acknowledge its false reporting and issue an unconditional apology, in addition to removing the publication from both its website and social media platforms.
His lawyer warned that failure to comply would prompt legal action: “Writ in the tort of defamation to allow you to prove what your disparagement of my client’s character and reputation, especially in the way of the office he holds as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission”.
, Ola Olukoyede, has strongly denied allegations circulating online that he coerced the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, into resigning.){kind=link}