A combined picture 9f Gbenga Komolafe and Aisha Achimugu
By Victory Oghene
These are indeed troubling moments for Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as he is allegedly entangled in a $5 million oil block scandal with Aisha Achimugu who was recently declared wanted the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud and money laundering.
Insiders squealed that the deal is tantamount to deep-rooted corruption crippling Nigeria’s oil sector.
Achimugu reportedly secured a lucrative oil block after the suspicious transaction. The deal, facilitated under the guise of “strategic partnership encouragement,” has raised concerns about systemic graft in Nigeria’s most vital industry.
Sources allege Komolafe orchestrated the deal through proxies to avoid direct links. A senior NUPRC official, speaking anonymously, claimed, “This wasn’t an isolated case. Komolafe has turned oil block allocations into a cash-and-carryn business.”
Komolafe, confident in his political protection, allegedly boasted of his immunity, saying, “They can’t remove me—I deliver money directly to the Villa.” Insiders say his financial ties to the Presidency shield him from accountability.
The scandal undermines Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, designed to foster transparency. Analysts warn that such corruption deters investors and deprives the nation of critical revenue for infrastructure and public services.
Komolafe’s past is equally controversial. As a key figure in the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), he was implicated in the multi-billion-naira fuel subsidy fraud under ex-Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke. Court documents alleged that he facilitated the movement of $70 million in cash for Diezani, further cementing his reputation as an enabler of graft.
Industry experts say Komolafe’s alleged schemes exemplify a culture where oil wealth benefits the connected few while ordinary Nigerians suffer. Advocacy groups are demanding investigations, but skepticism remains given his political ties.
“If Komolafe remains untouchable, it signals that corruption has fully captured Nigeria’s oil sector,” an NEITI official warned.
For Aisha Achimugu, she came to limelight after organising a 7-day lavish birthday party at the $132,000 per night calivigny Island and currently being investigated for alleged $150 million fraud by the EFCC. According to court filing by the anti-graft agency, Achimugu allegedly channelled $23.5 million to unknown origin through bureau de change operators to buy two offshore Petroleum Blocks PPL3007 and PPL302-D0 and to allegedly bribe officials of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)
