A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mele Kyari, over an ongoing fraud investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday after hearing an ex parte application filed by EFCC counsel, Ogechi Ujam. The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1641/2025, sought to preserve funds in the accounts pending the conclusion of investigations into alleged conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the application was meritorious.
“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 court adjourned the case to September 23 for the EFCC to report back on its findings.
The affected accounts are:
- Jaiz Bank account no. 0017922724 (Mele Kyari),
- Jaiz Bank account no. 0018575055 (Guwori Community Development Foundation),
- Jaiz Bank account no. 0018575141 (Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief), and
- A fourth undisclosed Jaiz Bank account.
According to the EFCC, preliminary investigations traced about ₦661.4 million suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities to the accounts, allegedly controlled by Kyari through family members and associates. The anti-graft agency said the funds were linked to inflows from the NNPC and oil companies.
The commission told the court it received a petition on April 24 from the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law against Kyari. Investigators said the probe involved obtaining bank and corporate records, as well as interviewing individuals connected to the case.
The EFCC argued that freezing the accounts was necessary to preserve evidence ahead of possible prosecution.
