By Muhammad Mamman
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to Mele Kyari, the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), amid allegations of fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. The ruling, issued Tuesday by Justice Emeka Nwite, follows an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is investigating Kyari for alleged financial misconduct.
The EFCC told the court that the accounts, held at Jaiz Bank, are tied to a probe into misappropriation of funds and criminal breach of trust. The agency claims its preliminary investigation uncovered N661.4 million ($400,000) in suspicious funds stashed in the accounts, allegedly funneled through Kyari’s family members acting as fronts. The accounts include two registered under Kyari’s name and two under the Guwori Community Development Foundation, purportedly used to disguise transactions as payments for a book launch and NGO activities.
Justice Nwite, finding the EFCC’s application “meritorious,” granted the freeze order to preserve the funds pending the investigation’s conclusion. “I have reviewed the affidavit evidence and exhibits,” Nwite said in his ruling. “This application is hereby granted as prayed.”
The EFCC’s motion, filed on August 11, stems from a petition by the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law, accusing Kyari of abusing his position to facilitate illicit financial dealings. Amin Abdullahi, an EFCC investigator, revealed that the accounts received suspicious inflows from NNPCL and oil companies with ties to the state-owned firm. The agency has requested detailed account records from Jaiz Bank and imposed a temporary 72-hour no-debit instruction to secure the funds.
The case has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s oil sector, where Kyari, a prominent figure, served as NNPCL’s head until recently. The EFCC says it needs more time to complete its investigation, which could lead to prosecution if evidence of wrongdoing is substantiated.
The court adjourned the matter to September 23 for a progress report, as the EFCC continues to unravel the complex web of financial transactions allegedly tied to the former oil executive.
