The federal High Court in Abuja has directed the freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, over suspected fraud.
Justice Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, issued the order after an ex-parte motion was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Moving the ex-parte application, counsel to the EFCC, Ogechi Ujam, told the court that the commission needs time to investigate the accounts.
In his ruling, Nwite held that the application was meritorious.
“I have listened to counsel to the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence with the exhibits and written address attached. I found that this application is meritorious and it is hereby granted as prayed,” the trial judge ruled.
In the ex-parte application filed on August 11, the EFCC sought an order freezing the bank accounts stated in the application schedule on the grounds that the accounts are under investigation over suspicious transactions.
The anti-graft agency said Kyari “is currently being investigated in a case involving the offences of conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering, pending the conclusion of the investigation”.
According to EFCC, the account details are: Jaiz Bank account number: 0017922724 with account name, Mele Kyari; Jaiz Bank account number: 0018575055 with account name, Guwori Community Dev. Fnd; and Jaiz Bank number: 0018575141 with account name: Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief.
The anti-graft agency said it is investigating the bank accounts in relation to alleged misappropriation of funds and criminal breach of trust.
