The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the freezing of four bank accounts linked to the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over alleged fraud and money laundering.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) moved an ex parte application seeking to preserve the funds pending the conclusion of investigations.
The EFCC, through its counsel, Ogechi Ujam, told the court that the commission had traced suspicious inflows amounting to ₦661,464,601.50 to the accounts domiciled in Jaiz Bank and allegedly controlled by Kyari.
The frozen accounts include those operated in Kyari’s name as well as two belonging to organisations identified as Guwori Community Development Fund and Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, held that the request was meritorious.
“I have listened to counsel to the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence with exhibits and written address attached. I find that this application is meritorious and it is hereby granted as prayed,” the judge declared.
The matter was adjourned till September 23 for a progress report.
According to documents before the court, the EFCC is investigating Kyari for offences bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering.
An investigator with the commission, Amin Abdullahi, stated in a sworn affidavit that the probe followed a petition dated April 24, 2025, submitted by a civic group, Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law.
Abdullahi revealed that the commission’s findings showed the accounts had been used to warehouse suspicious funds disguised as proceeds from a book launch and activities of non-governmental organisations.
He alleged that the accounts were managed by Kyari and some of his family members, who acted as fronts.
He further disclosed that several oil companies and contractors with dealings at NNPCL made payments into the accounts during Kyari’s tenure, suggesting possible diversion of funds.
The EFCC said it approached the court to prevent the dissipation of the funds while investigations continue.
“There is a need to preserve the funds in the identified bank accounts pending the conclusion of the investigation and possible prosecution,” the commission argued.
The agency added that it had written to Jaiz Bank to impose a temporary no-debit restriction, which under banking rules can only last for 72 hours, hence the urgency of seeking a court order.
With the interim order now in place, the frozen accounts will remain under restriction until the EFCC completes its investigation and decides whether or not to file charges.
Kyari, who served as NNPCL’s GCEO until his removal in July 2024, has yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
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