Former NNPCL CFO Umar Ajiya Denies EFCC Arrest Over Alleged $7.2 Billion Fraud

Alhaji Umar Ajiya Isa, the former Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has strongly denied reports claiming he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an alleged $7.2 billion fraud involving Nigeria’s refineries.

Speaking on Wednesday, June 25, Isa dismissed the circulating reports as “false and malicious,” insisting that he was never arrested by the EFCC.

He clarified that he voluntarily honored an invitation by the Commission and was not detained at any point.

“Nobody arrested me for any $7.2 billion concerning any refinery fraud,” Isa said. “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.”

Isa’s denial follows reports earlier this week alleging that he and several former officials of the NNPCL were arrested as part of an investigation into the mismanagement of funds allocated for the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna.

The EFCC reportedly launched the probe over concerns that billions of dollars earmarked for the turnaround maintenance of the refineries may have been diverted or misused.

While the EFCC has not officially confirmed or denied Isa’s claims, media reports indicated that other high-ranking officials, including former managing directors of the refineries, were taken in for questioning.

The Commission is said to be probing the alleged misappropriation of over $2.9 billion spent on refinery repairs, which have yielded little to no results in terms of actual refining capacity.

Isa, however, maintained his innocence and expressed readiness to cooperate fully with any investigation.

“I am in this country, and any day and anytime the EFCC requests me to appear before them, I will be present,” he stated. “I served at NNPCL Limited and I left with my integrity intact.”

The controversy has drawn public attention, particularly in light of ongoing concerns over Nigeria’s struggling oil sector and the prolonged non-functionality of its state-owned refineries, despite massive government investments in their rehabilitation.

As of press time, the EFCC has not issued a formal statement addressing Isa’s denial or providing updates on the investigation.