Kyari: Reports of my arrest by EFCC fake, sponsored attempt to smear me

Mallam Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), on Saturday stated that he served Nigeria with the fear of God and is willing to account for his stewardship during his tenure at the national oil company. 

Kyari made this clarification in response to a false report by TheCable, which claimed he had been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The news site has since deleted the false report.  In a post on his X account (formerly Twitter), the former NNPC boss emphasized that he served his country diligently and with the fear of God.

He described the report alleging his detention by the EFCC as “clear mischief and a calculated attempt by the newspaper and its sponsors to achieve a desired outcome, known only to them.”

Kyari added that he is currently taking a well-deserved rest following the dissolution of the management and board of NNPCL, where he served as Group Chief Executive.

He wrote: “Over the past few days and particularly in the past two hours, I have been inundated with calls from concerned family and friends over claims by an online newspaper that I was in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“This is clear mischief and a calculated attempt by the newspaper and its sponsors to achieve a desired outcome, known only to them.

“At present, I am taking a well-deserved rest after the dissolution of the management and board of the NNPCL, of which I was the Group Chief Executive.

“It should be stated that, having served the NNPC and later the NNPCL for 34 years—17 of those in management roles, and especially the last five years and nine months. I had little time for even a two-week leave.

“So, I am thankful for the opportunity to serve under Their Excellencies, Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I must emphasize that I served with the fear of God, knowing fully well, as a Muslim, that if I do not account before man, I will surely account before Allah. I am better off accounting to the institutions of man. Therefore, having served in public capacity, I am willing and happy to account for my stewardship in this world.”  While reiterating his willingness to account for his time at NNPC, Kyari noted that disinformation of this nature does not serve any good purpose for the company or the country.

He warned that such misleading claims could send the wrong signals to investors and the international community.  “It is in this regard that I urge the media to be circumspect and avoid being stampeded into misleading the public with unverified stories or matters that require further validation by relevant authorities.  I sincerely thank my family and friends who have reached out to me or tried to and assure them that I am available to respond to all lawful queries,” he concluded.