The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to former NNPC GMD, Mele Kyari, over allegations of fraud and money laundering.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order after listening to an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-graft agency told the court that its investigators were still tracking the trail of suspicious funds allegedly traced to Kyari.
The EFCC said the affected accounts — including two opened in Kyari’s name and two others operated under the Guwori Community Development Foundation — were allegedly used to warehouse N661,464,601.50 suspected to be proceeds of corruption. 
The commission stressed that preliminary findings showed the accounts received questionable inflows from NNPC and oil companies, under the guise of a book launch and NGO activities.
Investigators further alleged that Kyari used family members as fronts to operate the accounts and conceal the origin of the money.
According to a supporting affidavit deposed by EFCC operative, Amin Abdullahi, a petition received in April triggered the probe. He said the agency had already obtained bank records and corporate documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as part of the ongoing investigation.
EFCC added that it secured a temporary “no debit” order on the accounts but needed the court order to fully freeze them until the probe is concluded.
Justice Nwite agreed, ruling that the application had merit. The case was adjourned to September 23 for report.
