The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, following allegations of fraud.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday after hearing an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Ogechi Ujam. The judge held that the application was meritorious, stating:
“I have listened to counsel for the applicant and reviewed the affidavit evidence, exhibits, and written address attached. I find this application meritorious and it is hereby granted as prayed.”
The matter was adjourned until September 23 for further proceedings.
According to court filings marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1641 and dated August 8, the EFCC sought the order to freeze Kyari’s accounts domiciled in Jaiz Bank as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
The commission alleged that preliminary findings showed the accounts were used to warehouse over N661 million, suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
In an affidavit deposed to by Amin Abdullahi, an EFCC investigator attached to the Special Investigation Section, the agency confirmed it had received a petition on April 24 from the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law against Kyari.
Abdullahi stated that his team reviewed bank records, corporate filings, and interviewed individuals and companies linked to the transactions. According to him, investigators traced large inflows from NNPCL and oil firms dealing with the corporation into Kyari’s accounts. He alleged that while the accounts were managed by Kyari, some were operated through family members acting as proxies.
The frozen accounts include two in Kyari’s name and two under the “Guwori Community Development Foundation.” The EFCC also disclosed it had requested comprehensive account statements from Jaiz Bank.
A temporary “no-debit” instruction had earlier been placed on the accounts, but the EFCC noted that such directives could only last for 72 hours without a court order.
The investigator added: “It is in the interest of justice to grant this application, as freezing the accounts is necessary to preserve the funds pending the conclusion of investigations and possible prosecution.”
The affidavit revealed that funds traced to the accounts stood at N661,464,601.50, which the EFCC suspects to be illicit proceeds.
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