Former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari, has refuted claims of his detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission labeling the allegations as “clear mischief” aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

The denial follows reports by a local newspaper suggesting Kyari was under investigation for financial misconduct during his tenure.

In a statement posted on his verified X account on Saturday night, Kyari dismissed the accusations as a deliberate attempt to discredit him and warned that such disinformation could deter foreign investment in Nigeria’s oil sector.

“I am ready to account for my stewardship,” Kyari asserted, emphasizing his commitment to transparency and his service to both Nigeria and his faith as a devout Muslim.

Kyari, whose tenure ended following the recent dissolution of NNPCL’s management and board, stated he is currently on a “well-deserved rest.”

He urged stakeholders to focus on constructive dialogue to bolster investor confidence in the nation’s energy industry, a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy.

”Over the past few days and in particular in the past 2 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 they know,” he wrote on X.

The controversy comes at a time when NNPCL faces scrutiny over its operational and financial performance, with Kyari’s leadership often at the center of public debate.

Neither the EFCC nor NNPCL has issued an official statement regarding the allegations as of press time.