Court Freezes Mele Kyari’s Jaiz Bank Accounts Over Alleged Fraud

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 alleged 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 counsel, Ogechi Ujam.

The EFCC had asked the court to freeze the accounts for 60 days to allow it conclude its investigation, but Justice Nwite limited the order to 30 days, noting that it could be renewed if necessary.

Ujam told the court that the freezing order was necessary because the accounts were under investigation for offences including conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.

The accounts were identified as:

• Jaiz Bank account number 0017922724 (Mele Kyari)
• Jaiz Bank account number 0017922724 (Mele Kyari)
• Jaiz Bank account number 0018575055 (Guwori Community Dev.)
• Jaiz Bank account number 0018575141 (Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief)

After reviewing the application, Justice Nwite said: “I have listened to counsel to 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 judge adjourned the case until September 23 for an update from the EFCC.

The EFCC said its Special Investigations Unit received a petition dated April 24 from the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law, accusing Kyari of laundering funds through Jaiz Bank accounts.

According to the commission, preliminary findings showed that N661,464,601.50 — suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities — was warehoused across four accounts linked to Kyari. Investigators alleged that the accounts, managed by Kyari through family members acting as fronts, received suspicious inflows from NNPC and oil companies under the guise of a book launch and NGO activities.

The EFCC has written to Jaiz Bank for comprehensive account records and placed a temporary 72-hour no-debit instruction on the accounts pending the court order. The commission argued that the freeze was necessary to preserve funds for possible prosecution.