Fresh details have emerged surrounding the resignation of Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, former chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). According to a report from BIGPEN Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu accepted Komolafe’s resignation on December 17, alongside that of Engineer Farouk Ahmed, former head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Sources cited by BIGPEN Nigeria said Komolafe’s exit followed multiple petitions alleging large-scale fraud, asset concealment, and regulatory abuse under his leadership. A source disclosed that Komolafe “was sacked but was given a soft landing to resign as NUPRC boss by a cabal which has protected him in the presidency.” The petitions reportedly accused him of manipulating oil licences and concealing revenues running into billions of dollars.
In an open letter, the Nigerian People Against Corruption Coalition (NIPACC) claimed its petition triggered the action, alleging that “the Nigerian State was denied estimated revenues in excess of US$20 billion.” The coalition further alleged that Komolafe operated 33 bank accounts linked to his BVN and failed to declare them, while urging the new NUPRC leadership to investigate and “sanitize the rot of the erstwhile administration.”