The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to Mele Kolo Kyari, the immediate past Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), amid an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into allegations of fraud, conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the ex parte order sought by the EFCC on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, after the commission presented affidavit evidence and exhibits supporting the need to freeze the accounts to preserve funds during the investigation. The total funds frozen amount to approximately N661,464,601.50 across four Jaiz Bank accounts, two of which are registered under Kyari’s name, while the other two belong to the Guwori Community Development Foundation and the Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief, NGOs linked to Kyari.
The EFCC's lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, urged the court for a 60-day freeze to facilitate its investigations, but Justice Nwite limited the freeze to 30 days, with the possibility of renewal. The court adjourned further proceedings to September 23, 2025, when the EFCC is expected to report on the progress of its investigations.
The case follows a petition filed on April 24, 2025, by the advocacy group Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, which alleged that Kyari abused his office and was involved in conspiring to launder money linked to NNPCL operations. EFCC investigators revealed that the suspect allegedly received suspicious inflows into the various accounts from NNPCL and associated oil companies. Investigations further showed that Kyari’s family members might be acting as fronts to manage these accounts, and that transactions were masked as payments for a purported book launch and activities of the NGOs.
These developments come months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dismissed Kyari from his position in April 2025, appointing Bayo Ojulari as his replacement. Kyari has denied any involvement in wrongdoing.
The court order is a significant step in what could become one of the highest-profile corruption cases involving a former head of Nigeria’s state-owned oil corporation. The freeze on these accounts aims to prevent any dissipation of funds that are under scrutiny as the EFCC continues to probe the allegations.
Justice Emeka Nwite’s ruling underscores the judiciary’s recognition of the merit in EFCC’s application to secure assets believed to be linked to misconduct, ensuring the funds remain available should prosecution follow.
As the investigation unfolds, Nigerians await further disclosures on the case that highlights ongoing efforts to tackle corruption and restore integrity within Nigeria’s vital oil sector.