A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the freezing of four bank accounts linked to Mele Kyari, former group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, over an ongoing fraud investigation.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order on August 11 after hearing an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency told the court that the accounts, domiciled at Jaiz Bank, are under investigation for suspicious transactions allegedly linked to conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering. The accounts include:
0017922724 – Mele Kyari
0018575055 – Guwori Community Development Foundation
0018575141 – Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief
According to EFCC investigator Amin Abdullahi, a petition by the civil society group Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law triggered the probe. He said investigators traced about ₦661.4 million, suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, to the accounts.
The EFCC alleged that the funds were disguised as payments for a book launch and NGO activities but were in fact suspicious inflows from the NNPC and oil companies. It also claimed the accounts were managed by Kyari through family members acting as fronts.
Justice Nwite ruled that the application was “meritorious” and granted the request to freeze the funds pending the conclusion of investigations.
Kyari was removed from his position on April 2 by President Bola Tinubu, who cited the need for efficiency and restored investor confidence at the NNPC.
