The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, following an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Naijaonpoint reports that Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request on Tuesday after EFCC counsel, Ogechi Ujam, moved an ex parte motion seeking to restrain transactions on the accounts pending the conclusion of investigations into alleged conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite held: “I have listened to the counsel for 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 adjourned the matter till September 23 for a report on the investigation.
According to the EFCC, it filed the ex parte motion on August 11, 2025, to freeze the bank accounts said to be owned or controlled by Kyari, “who is currently being investigated in a case involving the offences of conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering pending the conclusion of the investigation.”
In an affidavit deposed to by Amin Abdullahi, an investigator with the EFCC’s Special Investigation Unit, the Commission said it had received and investigated a petition dated April 24 from a group, Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law, against Kyari.
Abdullahi stated he is a member of the team assigned to the probe and that the team sought and obtained bank records from commercial banks as part of its work.
Accounts Placed on Freeze
The EFCC said two of the accounts bear Kyari’s name, while two others are in the name of a non-governmental organisation, Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief. The affidavit listed them as:
- Jaiz Bank 0017922724 – Mele Kyari
- Jaiz Bank 0017922724 – Mele Kyari
- Jaiz Bank 0018575055 – Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief
- Jaiz Bank 0018575141 – Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief
The anti-graft agency said the accounts are the subject of an ongoing investigation into alleged misappropriation of funds and criminal breach of trust.
The EFCC alleged that “the bank accounts are linked to Kyari, who has been using them to receive suspicious inflows from NNPC and various oil companies that have dealings with NNPC.”
It further claimed that “bank records… revealed that these accounts are controlled and managed by Mr Kyari through his family members who are acting as fronts.”
Abdullahi deposed that ₦661,464,601.50, which are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, were warehoused in four different accounts.
He added: “Further investigation revealed that the said transactions in the various accounts were disguised as payments for a purported book launch and activities of a non-governmental organisation (NGO).”
Steps Already Taken With the Bank
On steps taken ahead of the court action, the EFCC investigator said: “That the Commission has written to Jaiz Bank, where the accounts referred to are domiciled, for the hard copies of the comprehensive account details. While the response of the Bank is being awaited, the Commission has written to post a ‘no debit’ instruction on the accounts, which will only last for 72 hours.”
Abdullahi also told the court: “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.”
Need To Preserve Funds, Says EFCC
The Commission maintained that the interim freeze was crucial to preserve suspected proceeds while its probe continues: “That there is a need to preserve the funds in the identified bank accounts pending the conclusion of the investigation and possible prosecution.
“That it is in the interest of justice to grant this application.”
Naijaonpoint reports that with the interim order in place, the EFCC is expected to conclude its investigations and report back to the court on September 23.
The fate of the funds will depend on the outcome of the probe and any subsequent legal steps the Commission may take.
Recall that Kyari served as GMD of the (then) NNPC/NNPCL, and the EFCC’s action follows a civil society petition alleging financial wrongdoing.
The court’s order does not amount to a conviction; it is an interim preservative measure pending the EFCC’s findings and any possible prosecution that may arise thereafter.
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