Tinubu’s Top Security Aides Accused in $1.5m Bribery Scandal Linked to NNPC Boss, Ojulari
Fresh controversy has erupted in Aso Rock following reports that two of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s senior security aides have been implicated in a $1.5 million bribery scandal allegedly designed to secure access for the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Bayo Ojulari.
According to an exclusive report by SaharaReporters, the President’s Chief Security Officer, Adegboyega Fasasi, and his Chief Personal Security Officer, Usman Musa Shugaba, allegedly collected the huge sum to facilitate Ojulari’s audience with the President on June 10, 2025.
The claims reportedly emerged during the interrogation of Abdullahi Bashir-Haske, a businessman and son-in-law to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was being questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He allegedly told investigators that the money was paid directly to the two security aides in return for Villa access. He further claimed that Fasasi provided him with a presidential access tag and assured him that EFCC pressure on his business dealings would be resolved—a promise that never materialised.
This is not the first time Fasasi’s name has surfaced in allegations of financial misconduct. In December 2024, he and two colleagues were reportedly accused of collecting $500,000 from a Niger Delta militant under the guise of securing federal contracts.
Despite an earlier attempt to redeploy him, Fasasi is said to have remained in office due to backing from powerful allies.
The latest revelations come at a time when Ojulari himself is under mounting pressure. Civil society groups earlier this year accused him of being involved in a $21 million corruption scandal, allegedly managed through Bashir-Haske.
More recently, the Senate summoned him over discrepancies amounting to ₦210 trillion in NNPC’s accounts between 2017 and 2023. Lawmakers expressed outrage after Ojulari failed to honour their invitation, claiming instead that he was with the President.
Despite growing controversy, the Presidency has insisted that Ojulari has not resigned and continues to oversee reforms at the national oil company.
However, the new allegations linking him to a bribery arrangement within the presidential security circle are expected to deepen scrutiny around both his leadership and the integrity of the President’s inner team.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the EFCC, the Department of State Services (DSS), nor the Presidency has issued an official statement addressing the bribery claims.
The unfolding scandal underscores the growing tension around governance, accountability, and transparency in the oil sector, with observers warning that the political fallout could be far-reaching if the allegations are not swiftly clarified.
