The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari, over allegations of fraud.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order following an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission counsel, Ogechi Ujam, who told the court that investigations into the matter were still ongoing.
In granting the request, Justice Nwite said:“I have listened to counsel for the applicant and reviewed the affidavit evidence, exhibits, and written address attached. I find this application meritorious and it is hereby granted as prayed.”
The matter was adjourned till September 23 for further proceedings.
According to the ex parte motion dated August 8 and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1641, the EFCC asked the court to freeze the specified accounts belonging to Kyari, who is under investigation for alleged conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
The anti-graft agency said preliminary findings revealed that the accounts—domiciled in Jaiz Bank—were used to warehouse over N661m, suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
An affidavit deposed to by Amin Abdullahi, an EFCC investigator attached to the Special Investigation Section, stated that the commission received a petition on April 24 from the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law against Kyari.
He said his team obtained bank records, corporate filings, and interviewed individuals and company representatives linked to the transactions.
Abdullahi stated that the team traced large inflows from NNPCL and oil companies with dealings with the corporation into Kyari’s Jaiz Bank accounts.
These accounts, he alleged, were managed by Kyari but operated through family members acting as fronts.
The frozen accounts include two in Kyari’s name and two under the name “Guwori Community Development Foundation.”
He added that the EFCC had written to Jaiz Bank for hard copies of the comprehensive account statements.
Meanwhile, a temporary “no debit” instruction had been placed on the accounts but could only last for 72 hours without a court order.
The investigator further deposed:“That I was informed by M.A. Babatunde, Esq., learned counsel to the applicant during official briefing at EFCC headquarters, and I verily believe him, that an order of this honourable court is necessary to freeze the said accounts clearly described in Schedule 1 to the motion paper while investigation is ongoing. That it is in the interest of justice to grant this application.”
The affidavit further revealed that: The funds traced to the accounts amounted to N661,464,601.50, suspected to be illicit proceeds.
The commission argued that freezing the accounts was necessary to preserve the funds pending the conclusion of investigations and possible prosecution.
