The Federal High Court in Abuja has sent back the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) ₦661 million money laundering case against former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, to the registry for reassignment.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who had been handling the matter during the vacation period, ruled on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, that the case file should be returned for a decision by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, on whether it remains with him or is assigned to another judge.
The EFCC had earlier secured an interim order freezing four Jaiz Bank accounts allegedly linked to Kyari. According to the commission, the accounts were used to warehouse ₦661,464,601.50 suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
In an affidavit, EFCC investigator Amin Abdullahi claimed the funds were traced to Kyari through family members allegedly acting as fronts. He said suspicious inflows from NNPC and oil companies were disguised as payments for a book launch and a non-governmental organisation.
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The anti-graft agency maintained that the freeze order was necessary to preserve the funds pending the conclusion of investigations into alleged conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
Kyari, who led the NNPCL until recently, has yet to publicly respond to the allegations.