A fresh scandal has rocked the Presidency as two of President Bola Tinubu’s top security aides have been accused of receiving a $1.5 million bribe to grant the embattled Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, access to the President.
The President’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Adegboyega Fasasi, and Chief Personal Security Officer, Usman Shugaba, allegedly facilitated Ojulari’s meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on June 10, despite mounting allegations of money laundering against the NNPC boss.
Ojulari is currently under investigation for transferring millions of dollars into the accounts of AA&R Investment Group, a company owned by Abdullahi Bashir-Haske, son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Investigations revealed that the transaction has deep political undertones, as Atiku, Tinubu’s main challenger in the 2023 elections, remains a leading figure in opposition efforts to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Security reports presented to the President allegedly linked Ojulari to suspicious financial dealings with Bashir-Haske, who has been in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since July for alleged money laundering.
During EFCC interrogation, Bashir-Haske reportedly confessed that Ojulari’s camp paid $1.5 million to Fasasi and Shugaba to secure an audience with Tinubu.
He also alleged that Fasasi issued him a Villa access tag and promised to use his influence to soften EFCC’s scrutiny, a promise that failed to materialize.
Beyond the Ojulari scandal, Fasasi has faced repeated accusations of misconduct. In December 2024, he was alleged to have collected $500,000 from a Niger Delta militant in exchange for facilitating a contract.
Multiple Villa sources accuse him of abusing his office by monetizing access to the President, defrauding political figures, and endangering the Presidency’s integrity.
Fasasi’s role has been controversial for months. In October 2024, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) redeployed him, citing unprofessional conduct.
However, he refused to vacate his office and was later reinstated, reportedly with the backing of influential governors and political allies who relied on him to guarantee their entry to the Villa.
This latest development adds to the growing controversies surrounding Tinubu’s inner circle and raises further questions about corruption, political influence, and the vulnerability of Nigeria’s highest office to manipulation by those entrusted with safeguarding it.
