Contrary to recent media reports that Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has chartered five aircrafts and jetted out to Brazil, the GCEO on Monday, attended the African Chiefs of Defense Staff Summit on Monday in Abuja, while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in Brazil on the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Ojulari’s attendance at the high-profile summit directly contradicts claims published by Sahara Reporters, which alleged that the NNPC boss and members of the board of the national oil conglomerate chaired by Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida had chartered private jets for a trip to Brazil just two months after a luxury retreat in Rwanda.
The African Chiefs of Defense Staff Summit, convened in Abuja, brought together senior military officials and strategic policymakers from across the continent. The event aimed to strengthen regional cooperation, address security challenges, and foster collaboration among African nations.
Sahara Reporters had published an exclusive story claiming that Engineer Ojulari, under NNPC’s leadership, had organized private jet charters for a Brazil mission, following a lavish retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, which reportedly involved booking an entire upscale hotel for board members and senior management.
While the outlet cited unnamed sources and drew attention to concerns raised by the Nigerian Senate regarding NNPC’s financial accounts, there has been no official confirmation or verifiable evidence to support the claim of a recent Brazil trip.
Contrary to these allegations, eyewitness accounts and official photographs document Engineer Ojulari’s presence at the African Chiefs of Defense Staff Summit in Abuja on Monday. This public engagement adds clarity and transparency amidst a swirl of speculation.
