…Dismisses Reports Of Being Detained At EFCC Custody
…Says Disinformation About NNPC Sending Wrong Signals To Foreign Investors
The immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mallam Mele Kyari on Saturday said that he served Nigeria with the fear of God and will be willing to account for his stewardship during his time at the national oil company.
Kyari said this in response to claims in some quarters that he was detained in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In a post made on his X account (formerly twitter), the ex-NNPC Boss said he served his country diligently with the fear of God.
He described reports claiming that he was being detained by the EFCC as “clear mischief and a calculated attempt by the newspaper and its sponsors to achieve a desired outcome, which only them know.”
Kyari further said in the post that he is taking a well-deserved rest after the dissolution of the management and board of the NNPCL, of which he was the Group Chief Executive.
He said, “Over the past few days and in particular 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, which only them know.
“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 the NNPCL for 34 years, and 17 of those in management roles and especially the last 5 years and 9 months, I had little time for leave of even two weeks.
“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 account before Allah, and that 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 expressing his willingness to account for his stewardship at NNPC, Kyari noted that the resort to disinformation does not serve any good purpose for the NNPCL or the country in general.
Such disinformation, he added, has the potential to 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 on unverified stories or matters that are subject of further validation by relevant organizations.
“I sincerely thank my family and friends who have reached out to me or tried to do so and assure them that I am available to respond to all lawful queries,” he concluded.
