Former Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS), seeking an immediate investigation into allegations by legal practitioner and media commentator, Barr. Darlington Agomou, that he diverted N5tn and $1.4bn in public funds during his tenure as head of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum regulator.
Komolafe, through his lawyers, Ojukwu Chikaosolu & Co., described the allegations as “false, malicious and entirely unsupported by any credible evidence,” insisting that he has never been investigated, indicted or convicted for corruption or any financial crime throughout his decades-long public service career.
The petition, dated July 27, 2026, and seen by NewsNGR was signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, who urged security agencies to investigate the source, authenticity and evidential basis of the allegations, as well as the circumstances surrounding their public dissemination.
According to the petition, the allegations were made by Agomou during a programme aired by Voice of the People TV and subsequently circulated on social media, where the video remains accessible to viewers.
During the broadcast, Agomou allegedly stated that following a forensic examination of Komolafe’s department, N5tn and $1.4bn were discovered to be missing.
Quoting the broadcast, the petition stated: “Gbenga Komolafe of the oil sector, after forensic examination of his department, N5tn and $1.4 billion was discovered to be missing. What are you supposed to do if you are actually looking for money? But he was asked to go away with that money… Meanwhile, you now turn around to go and borrow $568m to do the Badagry-Sokoto highway. Meanwhile, somebody went away with $1.4bn.”
Komolafe’s lawyers argued that the comments were presented as statements of fact rather than opinions, speculation or allegations requiring verification.
“The foregoing statement was not presented as an allegation requiring verification, a report attributed to any identified investigative authority, or a matter pending determination. It was communicated to the public as an established fact,” the petition read.
The lawyers further noted that Agomou neither identified any forensic audit nor cited any investigative agency, judicial proceeding or official report to support the claims made during the broadcast.
According to the petition, the statements conveyed to viewers that Komolafe personally stole, diverted or unlawfully appropriated N5tn and $1.4bn belonging to the Nigerian state and was subsequently allowed to escape accountability.
The petition maintained that no evidence exists to support such grave allegations.
“We are instructed by our client, and verily believe him, that the allegations are wholly false, baseless and unsupported by any forensic audit, investigative report, criminal charge, judicial finding or official indictment,” the lawyers stated.
Komolafe’s legal team said their client had built a distinguished career in both the petroleum industry and public service, serving in several strategic positions within the former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) before his appointment as Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC in September 2021.
The petition noted that he served under the administrations of former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu until leaving office in December 2025.
It further stated that throughout his years in public service, Komolafe had never been charged before any court of competent jurisdiction or found guilty of corruption, fraud, embezzlement, diversion of public funds, financial impropriety or abuse of office.
“Our client is a legal practitioner, a renowned petroleum engineer and a highly accomplished career public servant whose professional career has been marked by decades of exemplary service to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the petition stated.
It added that his service had consistently been characterised by professionalism, diligence and integrity.
The lawyers argued that because of the magnitude of the allegations, they could not simply be dismissed as political commentary or rhetorical exaggeration.
“The sums mentioned are so substantial, and the allegations so grave, that they cannot responsibly be dismissed as casual political commentary or rhetorical exaggeration,” the petition stated.
According to the legal team, where an individual publicly claims to possess knowledge of the disappearance or diversion of trillions of naira and billions of dollars in public funds, law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to determine whether such information is supported by credible evidence.
The petition therefore urged investigators to establish whether Agomou was in possession of any forensic report, official record, investigative findings or documentary evidence capable of substantiating the allegations he made during the programme.
“If Barr. Darlington Agomou is in possession of a forensic report or any credible evidence establishing that our client stole, diverted or ‘went away’ with the sums alleged, he should be required to produce such material to the Police,” the lawyers said.
“Conversely, if no such report or evidence exists, the circumstances surrounding the invention and public dissemination of the allegations should be fully investigated and all persons found culpable dealt with in accordance with the law.”
The petition also disclosed that Komolafe had already issued a formal demand to Agomou, requesting an immediate retraction of the statements and a public apology.
According to the lawyers, a copy of the demand would be made available to investigators handling the matter.
Beyond investigating the source of the allegations, Komolafe urged the police and DSS to identify the institution or agency alleged to have conducted the purported forensic examination referenced during the broadcast.
He specifically requested investigators to determine whether any forensic audit, investigative report, petition, official record, indictment or court process exists linking him to the alleged disappearance of N5tn and $1.4bn.
The former NUPRC chief also asked investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the production, authorisation, broadcast and continued republication of the programme on television and digital platforms, including Facebook and YouTube.
According to the petition, investigators should identify all persons involved in producing, approving and disseminating the programme and determine whether any offences were committed under applicable Nigerian laws.
“The allegation that a former head of a national regulatory institution personally absconded with ₦5tn and $1.4bn is of sufficient seriousness to warrant immediate intervention,” the petition stated.
“It affects not only the personal reputation of our client but also public confidence in national institutions and the integrity of public discourse.”
The lawyers further argued that the continued availability of the video online had compounded the reputational damage allegedly suffered by their client.
They noted that the broadcast remained accessible to viewers across Nigeria and beyond, attracting comments, shares and republication on social media.
The petition added that Komolafe welcomes lawful scrutiny of his stewardship while in public office and has nothing to conceal regarding his tenure at the NUPRC.
“Our client welcomes lawful scrutiny and has nothing to conceal concerning his tenure in public office. He is, however, entitled to the protection of the law against the deliberate or reckless attribution of grave criminal conduct unsupported by evidence,” the lawyers stated.
