The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, has officially debunked widespread reports suggesting he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

In a statement issued through his media aide, the Commission clarified that the Director-General was never taken into custody but instead chose to honor a voluntary invitation from the anti-graft agency. The report emphasized that as a public officer, he attended the engagement to provide necessary clarifications regarding ongoing inquiries into the Commission’s activities, maintaining that his cooperation was a demonstration of his commitment to the principles of transparency and administrative accountability.

Addressing the nature of his interaction with the agency, the statement noted, “It is important to clarify that he was not arrested, but attended the engagement voluntarily as a responsible public servant committed to transparency and accountability.”

The leadership of the Commission also addressed the media speculation surrounding the investigation, urging the public to treat the information currently in circulation with caution.

The statement further remarked, “It is also important to emphasise that the matters currently in the public domain remain allegations subject to investigation and due legal process. In line with established principles of justice and fairness, every individual is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Furthermore, Dr. Abdullahi called for calm and urged the public to avoid spreading unverified claims that could jeopardize the integrity of the investigation or cause unnecessary social tension. He advised stakeholders and supporters to remain law-abiding, stating, “At this time, we respectfully urge supporters, associates, stakeholders, and members of the public to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding while the appropriate authorities carry out their constitutional responsibilities.” The Director-General concluded by stressing the importance of allowing the legal process to run its course without the interference of “speculation, misinformation, sensational commentary, and the circulation of unverified claims that may distort facts,” adding that the truth would eventually emerge through “lawful, transparent, and due process.”