Following an ex-parte application that was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, temporarily froze four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to the former Group Managing Director (GMD), of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari.
Justice Emeka Nwite made the order after listening to counsel for the EFCC, Ms. Ogechi Ujam, who informed the court that the accounts were linked to alleged fraud.
Athough the commission applied to the court for a 60-day freeze on the accounts, Justice Nwite limited the order’s tenure to 30 days, stressing that it could be renewed if necessary.
The EFCC told the court that the temporary freezing order became necessary, as the accounts are the subject of an ongoing investigation in a case involving offences of conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
It listed 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 on the ex parte application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1641, Justice Nwite, held: “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.”
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until September 23 for the EFCC to report on further developments.
In an affidavit it attached in support of the application, the EFCC stated that its preliminary investigation revealed the bank accounts were linked to the proceeds of crime.
It emphasised that there was a need to preserve the funds pending the conclusion of the investigation and possible prosecution of those found culpable.
The EFCC revealed that officials of its Special Investigations (SIS) unit received a petition dated April 24, filed by a group known as the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law, against the former NNPCL boss.
The anti-graft agency said its 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 stated.
