The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, over alleged fraud.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission through its counsel, Ogechi Ujam.

Ujam informed the court that investigations into the accounts were still ongoing and requested time for the commission to conclude its findings.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the request was meritorious and consequently granted the application.

“I have listened to counsel to 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,” he said.

The judge adjourned the case to September 23 for a progress report.

In the ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1641, dated August 8 but filed on August 11, the EFCC sought an order to freeze the accounts pending the conclusion of its investigation.

The commission asked the court to issue an order freezing the bank accounts listed in the schedule.

According to the EFCC, the accounts belong to Mele Kyari, “who is currently under investigation for offences bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering, pending the conclusion of the inquiry.”

These include: Jaiz Bank account number: 0017922724 with account name: Mele Kyari; Jaiz Bank account number: 0017922724 with account name: Mele Kyari; Jaiz Bank account number: 0018575055 with account name: Guwori Community Dev. Fnd and Jaiz Bank number: 0018575141 with account name: Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief.

The EFCC stated that its application was anchored on three grounds.

First, it argued that the bank accounts in question are under investigation in connection with alleged misappropriation of funds and criminal breach of trust.

Second, it noted that preliminary findings have linked the accounts to the suspect, who allegedly exploited the complainant under the guise of being a contract facilitator.

Lastly, the commission contended that the accounts were being used to launder proceeds of unlawful activities.

“That there is need to preserve the funds in the identified bank accounts pending the conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution,” it added.

Kyari’s case is part of a broader EFCC probe into the management of funds allocated for refinery rehabilitation.