The former Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Alhaji Umar Ajiya Isa, has dismissed media reports claiming he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a $7.2 billion refinery fraud.

In a statement on Wednesday, Isa clarified that he voluntarily appeared before the EFCC and was not detained. He emphasized that no fraud allegations have ever been made against him during or after his service at NNPCL.

“I voluntarily submitted myself for questioning and went home afterwards. There was no arrest,” Isa stated.

He described the arrest rumors as a smear campaign aimed at damaging his reputation, adding that he is always available to appear before the EFCC if required.