DSS, EFCC Urges Online News Outlet To Retract Report On Ojulari’s Resignation

The Department of State Services and its Director-General, Mr Adeola Ajayi, have demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from an online news outlet over a publication alleging the abduction and forced resignation of Bayo Ojulari as head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

Also, a statement on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said its Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, through his lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), described the allegations as false, defamatory, and damaging to his personal and professional reputation and demanded a retraction.

The DSS demand, contained in a letter dated August 6, 2025, and signed by Mr. Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), legal counsel to the DSS and its Director-General, followed the publication titled: “EFCC, SSS abduct NNPC BOSS Bayo Ojulari, force him to sign resignation letter after directive from Bola Tinubu’s paramour Olatimbo Ayinde,” published on August 2, 2025.

According to the letter, the publication, which included photographs of Mr Ajayi, EFCC Chairman, Mr Olukoyede, and a woman identified as Olatimbo Ajayi, alleged that Mr Ojulari was abducted and coerced into resigning by security officials acting on a directive from a close associate of the President.

The legal team described the report as “totally false, unfounded, libellous,” and accused the outlet of portraying the DSS and its Director-General as tools of political intimidation.

“Our clients have been grievously maligned and injured in their integrity and character by your baseless and unfounded publication,” the letter stated, adding that the story lacked balance and relied on “questionable and contrived” sources.

“The DSS and its Director-General are demanding: An immediate retraction of the publication from all platforms.