By Anthony Otaru, Abuja
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts connected to Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), following allegations of fraud.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order after an ex parte motion was presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by its counsel, Ogechi Ujam. The agency told the court that ongoing investigations required more time to be concluded.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Nwite agreed with the EFCC’s request.
“I have listened to counsel to the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence with the exhibits and written address attached. I found that this application is meritorious and it is hereby granted as prayed,” the judge said.
The case was adjourned until September 23 for further updates.
*EFCC alleges money laundering, abuse of office as inflows from NNPC, oil firms traced to frozen accounts
The EFCC, in its motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1641 and filed on August 11, sought the freezing of the four Jaiz Bank accounts. The agency said the accounts, linked directly to Kyari and foundations associated with him, were under probe for conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
The listed accounts include Jaiz Bank Account No. 0017922724 (Mele Kyari); Jaiz Bank Account No. 0018575055 (Guwori Community Development Fund); and Jaiz Bank Account No. 0018575141 (Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief).
The EFCC argued that the funds in these accounts were proceeds of suspected unlawful activities and must be preserved pending the conclusion of investigations and potential prosecution.
In an affidavit, EFCC investigator Amin Abdullahi disclosed that the probe stemmed from a petition filed on April 24 by the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law.
According to him, investigators had already obtained bank statements, corporate records from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and interviewed individuals connected to the case.
He revealed that N661,464,601.50, suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, had been traced to Kyari’s accounts.
Investigators claimed that inflows into the accounts, allegedly from NNPC and oil companies, were disguised as payments for a book launch and NGO activities.
The EFCC further stated that the accounts were managed through Kyari’s family members acting as proxies. It added that a temporary “no debit” order had already been placed on the accounts, pending the court’s decision.
Abdullahi maintained that freezing the accounts was necessary to protect public interest while investigations continue.
