Bayo Ojulari has resumed work at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Peoples Gazette has learnt, two days after he was forced to sign a resignation letter. 

Mr Ojulari entered the NNPC Towers in Abuja shortly before 10:00 a.m. on Monday, according to an official who witnessed his arrival, who told The Gazette that a memo was shared with staff to dispel rumours of his ouster. 

“He’s back,” our source said. “He’s at the office now.” A security source said that Mr Ojulari’s matter appeared to have been resolved for now, although the capricious circumstances over his position may linger as President Bola Tinubu considers his options.

The development capped a weekend of anxiety after The Gazette broke the news about how Mr Ojulari was seized by senior national security and law enforcement officers on Friday night. Adeola Ajayi of the State Security Service and Ola Olukoyede of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission conducted the forced detention of Mr Ojulari and the subsequent extraction of his purported letter of resignation without presidential approval, our sources said. 

Shortly after The Gazette’s story, officials said Mr Ojulari was summoned to the Presidential Villa, where First Lady Remi Tinubu insisted his resignation wouldn’t be accepted. The security chiefs who coerced Mr Ojulari into the resignation letter had been acting on the orders of Olatimbo Ayinde, Mr Tinubu’s paramour, whose growing influence in the administration has recently raised alarm. 

A presidential spokesperson did not immediately return a request seeking comment. 

Mr Ojulari was appointed in April, after months of frantic competition amongst powerful interests, replacing Mele Kyari at the state-run oil firm.