The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to Mele Kyari, former group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, over alleged fraud.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order following an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
At the hearing, EFCC counsel Ogechi Ujam argued that the anti-graft agency required more time to investigate suspicious transactions traced to the accounts.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite said: “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.”
According to court filings, the EFCC is investigating Kyari in connection with alleged conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering. The affected accounts, domiciled at Jaiz Bank, include:
0017922724 — Mele Kyari
0018575055 — Guwori Community Development Foundation
0018575141 — Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief
Investigators say the accounts received suspicious inflows from the NNPC and oil companies, which were allegedly disguised as payments for a book launch and activities of a non-governmental organisation.
The EFCC disclosed that its probe was triggered by a petition filed on April 24 by a civil society organisation, Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law. In an affidavit, Amin Abdullahi, an EFCC investigator, alleged that about ₦661.4 million suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities was traced to the accounts.
“The bank records revealed that these accounts are controlled and managed by Mr. Kyari through his family members who are acting as fronts,” Abdullahi stated in court documents.
The commission said it had already placed a temporary “no-debit order” on the accounts, which would lapse within 72 hours without a court order.
Kyari was removed from office on April 2 by President Bola Tinubu, who cited the need to improve efficiency, restore investor confidence, and reposition the NNPC on a more commercial footing.
