…accused of alleged funding opposition
President Bola Tinubu is said to be furious following damning security reports linking newly appointed NNPC boss, Ojulari, to questionable financial transactions with a company owned by Atiku Abubakar’s son-in-law—just four months after appointing him to replace Mele Kyari.
Ojulari, who once led Shell Nigeria Exploration and founded BAT Advisory & Energy, is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged multimillion-dollar transfers to AA&R Investment Group. The company, headed by Abdullahi Bashir-Haske, operates in energy, agribusiness, logistics, and ICT.
Sources within the EFCC disclosed that several transactions between NNPC and AA&R were flagged as potentially illegal, sparking fears that state funds may be indirectly channelled toward “opposition financing” through Bashir-Haske—a known associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a key financier in political circles.
Bashir-Haske had previously benefited from NNPC contracts during Maikanti Baru’s tenure (2016–2019) but was sidelined by Kyari. However, following Ojulari’s appointment in April 2025, those privileges were reportedly restored, reigniting ties that raise red flags within the presidency.
Presidency insiders described Tinubu’s reaction as one of “betrayal and rage,” accusing Ojulari of “sleeping with the enemy,” especially as Atiku is seen as a strong presidential contender under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the upcoming 2027 elections.
Ojulari’s previous role advising Renaissance Africa Energy on its $2 billion acquisition of Shell’s onshore assets had positioned him as a respected technocrat. However, the recent revelations have cast a shadow over his loyalty and judgment—triggering what could become a major political and anti-corruption storm in the coming weeks.
