A former group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, is currently being interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over financial matters during his time in office.
Kyari was seen walking into the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja at about 2:15 pm on Wednesday.
As he was walked in, the former GMD said, “I have done my part; the EFCC must do theirs. When each of us does our duty—without fear or favour, with honour, respect, and commitment—Nigeria moves forward.”
The EFCC had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking a 60-day freeze order to complete the investigation.
But Justice Emeke Nwite limited the freeze period to 30 days with the option of a renewal if necessary.
The court in August ordered the temporary freezing of four Jaiz bank accounts linked to Kyari over allegations of fraud.
Justice Nwite made the order after counsel for the EFCC, Ogechi Ujam, moved an ex parte motion asking the court to freeze the accounts in the interim pending the conclusion of investigations by the commission.
The judge, in his ruling, held that the application was meritorious and accordingly granted same.
“I have listened to the counsel for the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence with the exhibits and written address attached. I found that this application is meritorious and it is hereby granted as prayed,” the judge held.
Justice Nwite then adjourned till Sept 23 for a report on the matter.
On August 11, 2025, the EFCC filed the motion ex parte before the court to seek an order freezing the bank accounts because the accounts are owned by Kyari, “who is currently being investigated in a case involving the offences of conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering pending the conclusion of the investigation.”
In the affidavit attached to the ex parte, Amin Abdullahi, an EFCC investigator attached to the Special Investigation Unit, said the commission received and investigated a petition dated April 24 and filed by a group, the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law, against Kyari.
He said he was a member of the team assigned to investigate the petition.
“Upon receipt of the petition referred to in Paragraph 4 above, my team carried out several investigation activities which included seeking and obtaining bank records from commercial Banks,” he said.