The assertions that Alhaji Umar Ajiyia Isa, the former CFO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was apprehended on Monday by agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of fraud are, according to Isa, unfounded.
The ex-CFO of NNPCL issued a statement on Wednesday denying rumours that he was ever detained in relation to a purported $7.2 billion involving transactions at the refineries in Warri and Port Harcourt, saying instead that he had voluntarily surrendered to the EFCC.
No one has ever put me under arrest on charges of fraud with a refinery involving $7.2 billion. I went home after willingly submitting to the EFCC’s interrogation. “It is unfortunate to see reports of my arrest for fraud in the media,” he said.
“I left NNPC Limited with my integrity intact,” he declared. Throughout my time here at the organisation, not a single person has accused me of fraud. The only motivation behind spreading this fake story of my arrests and confinement is to damage my reputation.
“I am in this country and any day and anytime the EFCC request me to appear before them, I will be present,” Isa stated, firmly stating that he was prepared to defend his reputation and tenure at the NNPCL at any moment.