Former NNPCL CFO Umar Isa-Ajiya denies EFCC arrest over alleged $7.2b fraud

Former Chief Finance Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Umar Isa-Ajiya, has firmly denied reports alleging his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with a $7.2 billion fraud.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Isa-Ajiya clarified that the claims circulating in the media were false and misleading. He explained that he was not arrested but had voluntarily responded to an invitation from the EFCC as part of ongoing inquiries.

“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 of stories of my arrest over fraud is unfortunate,” he stated.

“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 arrests and detention just want to tarnish my reputation.”

Mr Ajiya said he was ready at anytime to defend his reputation and years of service at the NNPCL, noting that, “I am in this country and any day and anytime the EFCC requests me to appear before them I will be present”.