The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to Mr. Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Tuesday following an ex-parte motion brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The commission alleged that the accounts were tied to ongoing investigations into fraud-related activities.
EFCC counsel, Ogechi Ujam, while moving the application, told the court that the commission required more time to conclude its probe into the matter.
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.”
The matter was subsequently adjourned until September 23 for report.
According to court filings, the EFCC, in a motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1641, sought an order freezing the accounts domiciled in Jaiz Bank. The affected accounts include:
Account No. 0017922724 (Mele Kyari)
Account No. 0018575055 (Guwori Community Development Foundation)
Account No. 0018575141 (Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief).
The anti-graft agency told the court that the accounts were being investigated in connection with allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, misappropriation of funds, and money laundering.
In a supporting affidavit, EFCC investigator Amin Abdullahi disclosed that the probe was triggered by a petition dated April 24, filed by a civil society group, Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law.
He explained that preliminary findings revealed that about N661,464,601.50 suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities was traced to the accounts operated by Kyari.
Abdullahi stated:
“The suspect opened various accounts in Jaiz Bank which have been used to receive suspicious inflows from NNPC and various oil companies that have dealings with NNPC. Bank records revealed that these accounts are controlled and managed by Mr Kyari through his family members who are acting as fronts.”
He further told the court that some of the suspicious transactions were disguised as payments for a book launch and activities of a non-governmental organisation.
The EFCC maintained that an interim order was necessary to preserve the funds pending the conclusion of investigations and possible prosecution.
Justice Nwite granted the application and ordered that the affected accounts remain frozen until the next hearing date.
