Court Freezes Mele Kyari’s N661m Accounts on EFCC’s Request

|By Adejumo Adekunle

Former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has suffered another blow as a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the freezing of his bank accounts over fraud allegations.

Justice Emeka Nwite, ruling on an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), directed that Kyari’s accounts containing ₦661,464,601.50 in Jaiz Bank be frozen pending investigation. The order, granted on Tuesday, affects accounts registered in Kyari’s name, the Guwori Community Development Foundation, and the Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief.

EFCC’s counsel, Ogechi Ujam, argued that the freezing order, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1641, was necessary to aid ongoing investigations against the embattled former NNPCL boss.

Delivering his 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 in support. I found that this application is meritorious, and it is hereby granted as prayed.”

The court fixed September 23 for a report on the true ownership of the accounts.

Kyari’s troubles deepened after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed him from office in April 2025, appointing Bayo Ojulari as his successor. Since then, corruption allegations have trailed his tenure, though Kyari has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.