In recent times, trouble and Mele Kyari, former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), are travelling companions. The latest of all his troubles is that a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of Jaiz Bank accounts linked to him over alleged fraud involving more than N661 million.
The order was given by Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through an ex-parte application, said the accounts contained suspicious funds traced to unlawful activities.
According to the EFCC, preliminary investigations showed that Kyari and his associates allegedly warehoused N661,464,601.50 in the accounts under the guise of NGO activities and a “purported book launch.”
The accounts frozen include:
Jaiz Bank Account No. 0017922724 (Mele Kyari)
Jaiz Bank Account No. 0018575055 (Guwori Community Development Foundation)
Jaiz Bank Account No. 0018575141 (Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief)
Investigators alleged that inflows into these accounts came from the NNPC and oil companies dealing directly with the state oil firm. The EFCC told the court that Kyari controlled the accounts using family members as fronts.
“The suspect opened various accounts in Jaiz Bank, which have been used to receive suspicious inflows. These transactions were disguised as NGO activities, but are in fact proceeds of corruption,” EFCC investigator Amin Abdullahi stated in an affidavit.
Justice Nwite ruled that the application was meritorious, ordering the accounts frozen pending conclusion of investigations.
The case was adjourned to September 23 for further report.
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