Nigerian Concord Newspaper with Agency Reports
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Adegboyega Fasasi, and Chief Personal Security Officer, Usman Shugaba, have been implicated in a $1.5 million bribery scandal.
Reports have it that the duo allegedly facilitated access for the embattled Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to meet with the President at the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock Villa), Abuja, after he reportedly paid them off. Tinubu however met with Ojulari at 11 a.m. on June 10.
The NNPC boss, Ojulari, is currently under investigation for alleged money laundering involving the transfer of millions of dollars to the account of AA&R Investment Group.
“The President was angry after security reports linked Ojulari to questionable financial transactions with a company owned by Bashir-Haske.
Recall a report which was earlier published about a luxury retreat by members of the NNPC board and top management in Kigali, Rwanda, not long ago, the same Abdullahi Bashir-Haske coordinated it,” one of the sources said.
“The President accused Ojulari of using NNPC funds to support his political opponents indirectly.”
In July, Bashir-Haske was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering.
According to sources, during interrogation, he revealed to the EFCC that the embattled NNPC boss had a physical discussion with the President through his personal security officers following the alleged $1.5 million bribe.
It was learnt that after the EFCC queried him over funds paid into his account by the NNPC, he was asked to explain whether the money was linked to the ADC or any other political party. It was during this interrogation that he revealed $1.5 million had been given to Fasasi.
“There is a corruption allegation involving $1.5 million bribe against the CSO to the President, Lukman Adegboyega Fasasi, and Chief Principal Security Officer to the President, CP Usman Musa Shugaba,” a source familiar with the EFCC investigation hinted.
“The pair collected $1.5 million from a close associate of the embattled NNPC CEO, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, to facilitate a meeting with the President.
“This revelation came after the EFCC arrested this close associate of the NNPC CEO, known as Bashir-Haske. During interrogation, Haske made different confessional statements about his involvement with some politically exposed individuals who are from opposition parties, as well as a cash of $1.5 million he gave security heads in the Presidential Villa to ensure Ojulari was given access to see Mr President.
“Fasasi even went ahead to issue a Presidential Villa access tag to Bashir-Haske, which granted him unrestricted access to Aso Rock. While being interrogated, he confessed that Fasasi also promised to help him (Bashir-Haske) talk to the EFCC chairman to make his case with the commission go away, but failed as he had no connection with the agency. He’s still in detention as we speak.
“Before Bashir-Haske was arrested, he was initially invited, so he knew there was a case against him and sought to make it go away.
“But the EFCC Chairman had already reported the matter to Mr President and requested approval for those involved to be released for questioning because they belong to different security agencies and work directly under the president.”
Another source in the Presidential Villa added, “Similar things happened in December 2024; Fasasi and other security officials in the villa collected $500,000 from a well-known Niger Delta militant to help facilitate a contract job.
“Fasasi has abused his office several times, collecting bribes to grant politicians and others access, defrauding and tarnishing the image of Mr President, as well as being a threat to the safety of Mr President. According to him, no one can remove him as CSO to Mr President, as he has the backing of the top brass of the government.
“Fasasi was once removed as CSO to Mr President for unprofessional conduct but was later reinstated. He and Shugaba have abused their powers and engaged in various unprofessional conduct.”