Despite swirling rumors of his forced resignation or dismissal, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, returned to work on Monday at the company’s headquarters.
Ojulari reinforced his active leadership role by speaking at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) oil and gas conference in Lagos.
Sources within NNPC confirmed that Ojulari arrived at the office as usual and carried out his duties without disruption. Reports indicate that he participated virtually in the SPE NAICE 2025 conference instead of attending in person.
The controversy erupted after claims surfaced that Ojulari had been pressured to resign following an alleged operation involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Service (SSS).
However, the Presidency swiftly denied these reports, stating that Ojulari remains the substantive head of NNPCL and had not submitted any resignation.
Adding to the speculation were unverified allegations of financial mismanagement, including ties to a $21 million scandal. Critics also accused Ojulari of extravagant spending, such as using private jets for international trips and hosting lavish personal events, contrasting with NNPCL’s reported financial challenges.
So far, neither the Presidency, the DSS, nor the EFCC has substantiated the claims of his resignation or removal, leaving the situation unresolved.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
