The fight against corruption in Nigeria took another dramatic turn as the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the freezing of four bank accounts linked to Mele Kyari, the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The order, granted by Justice Emeka Nwite, came after an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Kyari is under investigation for alleged fraud, conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering involving over ₦661 million.
According to investigators, two of the affected accounts are directly in Kyari’s name, while the other two are linked to the Guwori Community Development Foundation and its Flood Relief arm. What was publicly presented as a humanitarian NGO is now suspected to have been a cover for moving funds from NNPCL and affiliated oil companies, masked under activities such as charity projects and even a book launch.
The EFCC had initially asked the court for a 60-day freeze to deepen its probe, but the judge restricted the freeze to 30 days, with the option of renewal. The matter will return to court on September 23, 2025, for further updates.
Kyari, who stepped down earlier this year, is reportedly on the EFCC watchlist, with investigators tracing alleged financial flows linked to his time in office. Sources say proxies, including family members, may have helped operate some of the suspect accounts.
This move underscores the EFCC’s growing scrutiny of financial dealings within the NNPCL under Kyari’s leadership — a case many see as a litmus test for Nigeria’s fight against high-level corruption.
