Umar Ajiya, former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), has refuted claims that he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N7.2 billion fraud.
In a statement issued through his legal representatives, Ajiya clarified that he was only invited by the anti-graft agency for questioning and cooperated fully with investigators before being allowed to return home.
The EFCC had reportedly been investigating financial transactions during Ajiya’s tenure as NNPC CFO, with a specific focus on contracts awarded between 2018 and 2022.
While the commission has not officially confirmed the details of its investigation, sources suggest the probe relates to alleged irregularities in procurement processes and fund disbursements.
Ajiya maintained his innocence, describing the allegations as “baseless and politically motivated.” His legal team emphasised that he has not been charged with any offence and remains willing to assist authorities with any inquiries.
“Our client is a respected professional who served the NNPC with integrity. These unsubstantiated claims are damaging to his reputation,” the statement read.
The former CFO served at NNPC during a critical transition period when the state oil company was being restructured as a commercial entity.
Financial experts note that such transitions often involve complex accounting procedures that could be misinterpreted.
The EFCC has neither confirmed nor denied the investigation, maintaining its standard policy of not commenting on ongoing cases like the former NNPC CFO’s case.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
