Court Freezes Four Bank Accounts Linked to Ex-NNPCL Boss Kyari Over Alleged Fraud

By Iyojo Ameh

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the freezing of four bank accounts allegedly linked to former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the interim order on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the request was meritorious. “I have listened to the counsel for the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence with the exhibits and written address attached. I find that this application is meritorious and it is hereby granted as prayed,” he said. The matter was adjourned to September 23 for a progress report.

The EFCC had approached the court on August 11, seeking to freeze the accounts pending the conclusion of investigations into suspicious financial inflows allegedly traced to Kyari. According to the anti-graft agency, four Jaiz Bank accounts — two in Kyari’s name and two in the name of Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief — were found to contain over ₦661 million suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

In an affidavit deposed by EFCC investigator Amin Abdullahi, the Commission said the accounts were being used to receive suspicious funds from the NNPC and oil companies dealing with the corporation. Abdullahi added that preliminary findings suggested the transactions were disguised as payments for a book launch and NGO activities, while the accounts were controlled by Kyari through family members acting as proxies.

The EFCC argued that the order was necessary to preserve the funds and prevent further withdrawals while investigations and possible prosecution continue.