EX-NNPCL CFO DENIES EFCC ARREST OVER $7.2BN REFINERY FRAUD CLAIM
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
A former Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Umar Ajiyia Isa, has denied media reports claiming he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged $7.2 billion fraud involving the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Isa clarified that he was not arrested but had voluntarily presented himself to the anti-graft agency for questioning.
“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,” Isa said. “To see in the media stories of my arrest over fraud is unfortunate.”
The former CFO said the reports were attempts to malign his character, insisting he served at NNPCL with integrity and was never accused of wrongdoing throughout his tenure.
“I served at NNPC Limited and I left with my integrity intact. People who are pushing this false narrative of arrest and detention just want to tarnish my reputation,” he stated.
Isa added that he remains willing to appear before the EFCC at any time to provide clarity on any matter relating to his role at NNPCL.
This development comes in the wake of concerns raised by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts over discrepancies in the audited financial statements of NNPCL between 2017 and 2023.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada, described the financial inconsistencies as “mind-boggling and worrisome,” revealing that 11 audit queries had been issued to NNPCL’s finance team with a one-week deadline to provide explanations.
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