Tinubu’s Prime Safety Aides Implicated In $1.5Million Bribery Scandal To Grant NNPC Boss Ojulari

Sources instructed Reporter that the duo allegedly facilitated entry for the embattled Group Chief Govt Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm (NNPC) Restricted to satisfy with the President on the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock Villa), Abuja, after he reportedly paid them off.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief Safety Officer (CSO), Adegboyega Fasasi, and Chief Private Safety Officer, Usman Shugaba, have been implicated in a $1.5 million bribery scandal.

Sources instructed Reporter that the duo allegedly facilitated entry for the embattled Group Chief Govt Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm (NNPC) Restricted to satisfy with the President on the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock Villa), Abuja, after he reportedly paid them off.

Reporter gathered that Tinubu met with Ojulari at 11 a.m. on June 10.

The NNPC boss, Ojulari, is at present below investigation for alleged cash laundering involving the switch of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to the account of AA&R Funding Group.

The corporate is owned by Abdullahi Bashir-Haske, son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, President Tinubu’s predominant rival within the 2023 normal elections.

Atiku stays a key determine within the coalition of opposition leaders searching for to unseat Tinubu and dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027, utilizing the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“The President was indignant after safety experiences linked Ojulari to questionable monetary transactions with an organization owned by Atiku Abubakar’s son-in-law, Bashir-Haske. Keep in mind the story Reporter revealed a couple of luxurious retreat by members of the NNPC board and high administration in Kigali, Rwanda, not way back, the identical Abdullahi Bashir-Haske coordinated it,” one of many sources stated.

“The President accused Ojulari of utilizing NNPC funds to help his political opponents not directly.”

In July, Bashir-Haske was arrested by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) for alleged cash laundering.

In keeping with sources, throughout interrogation, he revealed to the EFCC that the embattled NNPC boss had a bodily dialogue with the President by means of his private safety officers following the alleged $1.5 million bribe.

Reporter learnt that after the EFCC queried him over funds paid into his account by the NNPC, he was requested to clarify whether or not the cash was linked to the ADC or another political get together. It was throughout this interrogation that he revealed $1.5 million had been given to Fasasi.

“There’s a corruption allegation involving $1.5 million bribe in opposition to the CSO to the President, Lukman Adegboyega Fasasi, and Chief Principal Safety Officer to the President, CP Usman Musa Shugaba,” a supply acquainted with the EFCC investigation instructed Reporter.

“The pair collected $1.5 million from a detailed affiliate of the embattled NNPC CEO, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, to facilitate a gathering with the President.

“This revelation got here after the EFCC arrested this shut affiliate of the NNPC CEO, generally known as Bashir-Haske. Throughout interrogation, Haske made completely different confessional statements about his involvement with some politically uncovered people who’re from opposition events, in addition to a money of $1.5 million he gave safety heads within the Presidential Villa to make sure Ojulari was given entry to see Mr President.

“Fasasi even went forward to concern a Presidential Villa entry tag to Bashir-Haske, which granted him unrestricted entry to Aso Rock. Whereas being interrogated, he confessed that Fasasi additionally promised to assist him (Bashir-Haske) discuss to the EFCC chairman to make his case with the fee go away, however failed as he had no reference to the company. He’s nonetheless in detention as we converse.

“Earlier than Bashir-Haske was arrested, he was initially invited, so he knew there was a case in opposition to him and sought to make it go away.

“However the EFCC Chairman had already reported the matter to Mr President and requested approval for these concerned to be launched for questioning as a result of they belong to completely different safety companies and work immediately below the president.”

One other supply within the Presidential Villa added, “Comparable issues occurred in December 2024; Fasasi and different safety officers within the villa collected $500,000 from a well known Niger Delta militant to assist facilitate a contract job.

“Fasasi has abused his workplace a number of instances, accumulating bribes to grant politicians and others entry, defrauding and tarnishing the picture of Mr President, in addition to being a risk to the security of Mr President. In keeping with him, nobody can take away him as CSO to Mr President, as he has the backing of the highest brass of the federal government.

“Fasasi was as soon as eliminated as CSO to Mr President for unprofessional conduct however was later reinstated. He and Shugaba have abused their powers and engaged in varied unprofessional conduct.”

Fasasi’s Previous Controversies

SaharaReporters on October 20 reported that the Director Normal of the State Safety Service (SSS), also referred to as the Division of State Companies (DSS), Tosin Ajayi, had eliminated Fasasi from his place because the CSO to Tinubu.

Fasasi was changed by Rasheed Atanda Lawal, a deputy director of the SSS, who was enrolled in a fellowship course on the Nationwide Institute for Safety Research.

Nonetheless, on October 29, 2024, it reported that Fasasi had refused to go away the Presidential Villa regardless of being redeployed by the DSS Director Normal.

Reporter gathered that Fasasi had the backing of some state governors and different influential folks to stay within the Villa, having allegedly acquired monies from them to make sure common entry to Tinubu.

Another officers within the Villa, nevertheless, accused the CSO of a sample of receiving bribes to display screen those that may see Tinubu and people who wouldn’t.

“There’s loads of strain from governors and influential folks from whom he has collected cash to maintain him, saying that he needs to be there. We will affirm from Villa that the CSO refused to go away,” one of many sources instructed Reporter in October 2024.

“He’s accused of shaking down folks to go to Tinubu. The logic of these supporting his keep is bizarre. They declare that if he leaves, they should bribe the brand new individual afresh to have entry to Tinubu,” the supply additional revealed.

“Some highly effective individuals are backing Fasasi and are negotiating to let him depart in December,” one other supply corroborated.

SaharaReporters