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NNPC: Court freezes former GCEO Mele Kyari’s account as probe widens
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to Mr. Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Tuesday following an ex-parte motion brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The commission alleged that the accounts were tied to ongoing investigations into fraud-related activities.
EFCC counsel, Ogechi Ujam, while moving the application, told the court that the commission required more time to conclude its probe into the matter.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite said:
“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.”
The matter was subsequently adjourned until September 23 for report.
According to court filings, the EFCC, in a motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1641, sought an order freezing the accounts domiciled in Jaiz Bank. The affected accounts include:
Account No. 0017922724 (Mele Kyari)
Account No. 0018575055 (Guwori Community Development Foundation)
Account No. 0018575141 (Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief).
The anti-graft agency told the court that the accounts were being investigated in connection with allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, misappropriation of funds, and money laundering.
In a supporting affidavit, EFCC investigator Amin Abdullahi disclosed that the probe was triggered by a petition dated April 24, filed by a civil society group, Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law.
He explained that preliminary findings revealed that about N661,464,601.50 suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities was traced to the accounts operated by Kyari.
“The suspect opened various accounts in Jaiz Bank which have been used to receive suspicious inflows from NNPC and various oil companies that have dealings with NNPC. Bank records revealed that these accounts are controlled and managed by Mr Kyari through his family members who are acting as fronts.”
He further told the court that some of the suspicious transactions were disguised as payments for a book launch and activities of a non-governmental organisation.
The EFCC maintained that an interim order was necessary to preserve the funds pending the conclusion of investigations and possible prosecution.
Justice Nwite granted the application and ordered that the affected accounts remain frozen until the next hearing date.
News
Breaking: Court of Appeal rules in favour of Turaki -led PDP candidate for Osun governorship election
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Gubernatorial Candidate in Osun State was validly nominated by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee.
The court also ordered INEC to list the PDP logo on the ballot ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election.
The Court held that access code is neither a creation of the Constitution nor the Electoral Act; rather, a creation of INEC’s guidelines and cannot, in any way, override the provisions of the Constitution.
Section 288 of the Constitution does not specify the method for nominating candidates; it only states that the names of candidates should be forwarded to the Commission.
The court further held that the defendant (INEC) should take steps to include the name of the appellant on the ballot paper.
Additionally, the court ruled that the primary election conducted by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP was a valid primary election in law.
The three-man panel of justices—Justice Mahmud, Justice Jaro, and Justice Ankawere, was unanimous in its judgment.
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Breaking: NHRC sets up situation room to monitor and document hate speech, intimidation, threat to life ahead 2027
The national Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has set up a situation room to monitor and document all incidences of hate speech, intimidation and threat to life by politicians and other actors ahead of the 2027 general election.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns over rising incidences of hate speech, intimidation and outright threat to life by highly placed individuals, especially politicians and religious leaders.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chef Tony Ojukwu, SAN, revealed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference.
He said the situation room would enable the Commission harvest data, analysis and document persons, agencies and others involved in the negative statements in order to ensure they are properly tracked and brought to book by relevant agencies.
Ojukwu also took journalists on a tour of the newly set up situation room.
Details later…..
News
Breaking: NHRC expresses concern over rising incidences of hate speech, threat to life ahead 2027 elections
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns over rising incidences of hate speech, intimidation and outright threat to life by highly placed individuals, especially politicians and religious leaders.
At a press conference in Abuja Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chef Tony Ojukwu, SAN, recalled statements credited to Senator Francis Fadahunsi and Sheikh Yahya Jingir and described the das dangerous with capacity to set the nation ablaze.
He called on politicians, religious and traditional rulers, among other stakeholders to call their supporters and faithful to orders.
He urged government to act before rhetorics turn to violence, saying the forthcoming election in Osun State should serve as example of Nigeria’s capacity to conduct political contest in compliance with international best practices.
Details later…..
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