Fraud: Court gives NNPCL boss 14 days to respond

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has slammed a 14-day ultimatum to the Group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari to show reasons why an order seeking to suspend him from office and sanction his arrest and prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of money laundering should not be granted.

Justice Mohammed Madugu of the Bwari division of the court, was sequel to an exparte motion no : FCT/HC/BW/M/1007/2025, brought by the Incorporated Trustees of Initiative for Promotion if Civic Obligation and Sustainable Peace.

The motion is an offshoot of an originating summons by the group pending before the court in suit No: FCT/HC/BW/CV/398/2025, wherein, the plaintiff is seeking the suspension and investigation of Bayo Ojulari over alleged fraud.

Listed as defendants are :the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the Attorney General of the Federation and Bayo Ojulari.

Upon reading the motion exparte and the accompanying affidavit deposed by Ugoh Michael Toochi,which was moved and argued by Daniel Edeachi, Justice Madugu further ordered an accelerated hearing and determination of the suit.

According to the enrolled order of the court, dated December 5, 2025, the court granted leave for the claimant to serve the 1st and 3rd defendants by substituted means to wit: delivering the court processes to staff of the AGF at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja and serving same through the officer or staff of the legal department of the NNPCL at its head office at NNPC Towers, Abuja.

In addition, the court granted an order deeming the substituted service as proper and valid .

Meanwhile, further hearing of the case has been adjourned to January 19, 2026.

In the originating summons, the group is seeking a detailed investigation by EFCC and other security agencies against the GCEO for alleged cases of money laundering, operation of foreign accounts, and non-asset declaration among others.

It is also asking the court to refer him to EFCC for investigation, arrest, and prosecution.