Ex-NNPCL CFO Denies Arrest By EFCC Over Fraud

Ex-NNPCL CFO Denies Arrest By EFCC Over Fraud.
Says he voluntarily appeared before EFCC for questioning.
Senate queries NNPCL over financial discrepancies.

Former Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Umar Ajiya Isa, has denied reports that he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud linked to refinery transactions.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that

In a statement released on Wednesday, Isa clarified that he voluntarily appeared before the EFCC and was never detained in connection with the alleged $7.2 billion fraud involving the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.

Isa described the circulating reports of his arrest as false and damaging, stressing his commitment to defending his integrity and reputation built over years of service at the NNPCL.

“Nobody arrested me for any $7.2 billion in relation to any refinery fraud. I voluntarily submitted myself for questioning to the EFCC, and thereafter, I went home. To see in the media stories of my arrest over fraud is unfortunate,” he said.

Isa insisted that during his tenure at NNPCL, he was never accused of fraud, adding that those spreading the false arrest claims were attempting to tarnish his image.

“I served at NNPC Limited and I left with my integrity intact. Nobody has accused me of any fraud throughout my sojourn at the company. People who are pushing this false narrative of arrest and detention just want to tarnish my reputation. I am in this country and any day and any time the EFCC requests me to appear before them, I will be present,” he said.

Meanwhile, Naija News recalls that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, last week raised alarm over discrepancies running into trillions of naira in NNPCL’s audited financial statements from 2017 to 2023.

Senate queries NNPCL over financial discrepancies

The committee described the financial gaps as troubling and demanded clarifications. The Senate has since issued 11 queries to the NNPCL finance team, giving them one week to provide responses.