The immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mele Kyari has stated that he served the company with the fear of God and ready to account for his stewardship.
Kyari stated this in a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday, dismissing the online newspaper’s report of being held in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following the ongoing probe of the top management of the company under his leadership for alleged mismanagement of funds.
The former GCEO, who said he was inundated with calls from concerned family and friends over the past few days and in particular in the past two hours, stated that the report was a clear mischief and a calculated attempt by the newspaper and its sponsors to achieve a desired outcome, which is best known to them.
He noted 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.
Kyari 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, he had little time for leave of even two weeks.
Therefore, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve.
While reiterating that he served with the fear of God, the Ex-GCEO of the national oil company stated that the resort to disinformation does not serve anyone’s purpose, the NNPCL or the country in General.
“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.
“However, it is important to state that the resort to disinformation does not serve anyones purpose, the NNPCL or the country in General, as it has the potential to send the wrong signals to investors and the international community,” Kyari said.
He urged 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.
He sincerely thanked his family and friends who have reached out to him or tried to do so and assured them that he is available to respond to all lawful queries.
