Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to the former Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, following allegations of fraud, conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
EFCC Moves to Freeze Mele Kyari’s Accounts
The ruling was delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its counsel, filed an ex-parte motion on August 11, 2025.
Justice Nwite stated:
“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.”
The case has been adjourned to September 23, 2025, for a progress report.
EFCC’s Investigations Into Kyari’s Finances
According to court documents, Amin Abdullahi, an EFCC investigator with the Special Investigation Unit, revealed that the commission acted on a petition dated April 24, 2025, submitted by a civil society group, Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law.
The preliminary probe uncovered that:
- Two accounts are directly in the name of Mele Kyari.
- Two accounts belong to an NGO, Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief, but were allegedly controlled by Kyari.
Accounts Listed in Court Documents:
- Jaiz Bank Account No: 0017922724 (Mele Kyari)
- Jaiz Bank Account No: 0017922724 (Mele Kyari – duplicate listing)
- Jaiz Bank Account No: 0018575055 (Guwori Foundation)
- Jaiz Bank Account No: 0018575141 (Guwori Foundation)
Suspicious Transactions and Alleged Laundering
The EFCC disclosed that over ₦661,464,601.50 suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities were deposited across the accounts.
Investigators claim the transactions were disguised as:
- Sponsorship for a book launch
- Funding for NGO activities
The commission further alleged that Kyari managed the accounts through family members acting as fronts, receiving suspicious inflows from NNPCL and several oil companies.
Why the Court Ordered a Freeze
The EFCC argued that immediate freezing was necessary to prevent misappropriation of funds, protect evidence, and ensure the money remained available for possible prosecution.
The Commission has since issued a “no debit” instruction to Jaiz Bank while awaiting the bank’s official account statements. However, the instruction lasts only 72 hours, making the court’s intervention critical.
What’s Next?
The case will return to court on September 23, 2025, where the EFCC is expected to present an update on the ongoing probe.
