The Strategic Communication Centre for Defense and Security has responded to a recent media report alleging that the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, chartered private jets for a trip to Brazil.
The report, published by an online platform, claimed that Mr. Ojulari arranged the trip two months after a separate NNPCL event in Kigali, Rwanda, and suggested that private jets were used to convey board members and senior management staff.
However, in a press briefing held in Abuja, the National Director of SCCDS, Mr. Bonaventure Melah, stated that the claims were unfounded. According to Melah, internal checks confirmed that Mr. Ojulari had not traveled to Brazil and had remained in Nigeria for official duties.
“Our findings indicate that Mr. Ojulari has been in Nigeria this week, attending to pressing management responsibilities in line with his mandate,” Melah stated.
Melah emphasized the importance of accurate information in a democracy, noting that public scrutiny of public office holders is crucial, but information presented to the public should be verified and accurate.
He called for responsible journalism and urged media practitioners to avoid publishing reports that could mislead the public or harm reputations without substantiated evidence.
Melah reaffirmed SCCDS’s position that public officials should be supported in the execution of their duties, provided they remain committed to transparency and accountability. The SCCDS National Director’s statement aims to set the record straight and clarify the situation surrounding the alleged trip to Brazil.