A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to former Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kolo Kyari, over allegations of fraud.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday while ruling on an ex parte motion (FHC/ABJ/CS/1641) filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its lawyer, Ogechi Ujam.
The EFCC had sought a 60-day freezing order to conclude its investigation, but Justice Nwite limited the order to 30 days, with the option of renewal.
Ujam told the court the order was necessary because the accounts are being probed for offences including conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering. The accounts were listed as: Jaiz Bank account number 0017922724 (Mele Kyari), Jaiz Bank account number 0017922724 (Mele Kyari), Jaiz Bank account number 0018575055 (Guwori Community Dev.), and Jaiz Bank account number 0018575141 (Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief).
Justice Nwite, after reviewing the affidavit evidence and exhibits, held that the EFCC’s application had merit and granted it as prayed. The matter was adjourned to September 23 for the commission to report further developments.
According to the EFCC, the investigation was triggered by an April 24 petition filed by the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law. Preliminary findings allegedly show that N661,464,601.50, suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, was warehoused in the four accounts.
The EFCC alleged that Kyari opened the accounts to receive suspicious inflows from NNPC and various oil companies, using family members as fronts. It claimed the funds were disguised as payments for a book launch and NGO activities.
The commission added that it had requested comprehensive account records from Jaiz Bank and imposed a temporary 72-hour no-debit instruction before seeking the court order to preserve the funds pending the conclusion of its investigation and possible prosecution.
