Folarin Kehinde

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to the former Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kolo Kyari, over allegations bordering on fraud.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday while ruling on an ex parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1641 brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which was argued by its lawyer, Ogechi Ujam.

Although the EFCC had urged the court to freeze the account for 60 days to enable it to conclude the ongoing investigation, Justice Nwite limited the tenure of the order to 30, which he said could be renewed if necessary.

Ujam had told the court that the temporary freezing order was necessary because the accounts were currently being investigated in a case involving the offences of conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering pending the conclusion of the investigation.

She identified the accounts as Jaiz Bank account number: 0017922724 with account name: Mele Kyari; Jaiz Bank account number: 0017922724 with account name: Mele Kyari; Jaiz Bank account number: 0018575055 with account name: Guwori Community Dev. and Jaiz Bank account number: 0018575141 with account name: Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief.

Ruling, 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,” he said.

The judge then adjourned till September 23 for the EFCC to report on further developments.

The EFCC predicated its motion on three grounds, to the effect that the bank accounts are subject matters of ongoing investigation by the commission in relation to misappropriation of funds.

It stated that the preliminary investigation conducted thus far revealed that the bank accounts are linked to the suspect, who took advantage of the complainant to be a contract facilitator and launder proceeds of unlawful activities.

The EFCC added that there is a need to preserve the funds in the identified bank accounts pending the conclusion of the investigation and possible prosecution,” it added.

It stated, in a supporting affidavit, that officials of its Special Investigations (SIS) unit received a petition dated April 24 and filed by a group, the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law, against Kyari.

It said investigation so far revealed, among others, “that N661,464,601.50, which are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, warehoused in four different accounts.

“These funds were traced to the suspect Mele Kolo Kyari, who is the former Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“The suspect opened various accounts in Jaiz Bank, which have been used to receive suspicious inflows from NNPC and various oil companies that have dealings with NNPC.

“Bank records revealed that these accounts are controlled and managed by Mr Kyari through his family members who are acting as fronts.

“Further investigation revealed that the said transactions in the various accounts were disguised as payments for a purported book launch and activities of a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

“The commission (EFCC) has written to Jaiz Bank, where the four accounts referred to are domiciled, for the hard copies of the comprehensive account details.

“While responses of the banks are being awaited, the commission has written to post a no debit instruction on the accounts, which will only last for 72 hours.

“An order of this honourable court is necessary to freeze the said accounts clearly described in schedule 1 to the Motion paper for while investigation is ongoing.

“It is in the interest of justice to grant this application,” it said.