The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, is set to reassign the money laundering suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mele Kyari.
This follows the decision of Justice Emeka Nwite, who had been handling the matter as a vacation judge, to return the case file after the expiration of his vacation duties.
Justice Nwite, who presided over the matter between late July and September 16, 2025, had earlier granted an interim order on August 19, directing the temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts allegedly linked to Kyari. The judge fixed September 23 for a compliance report but stepped aside at Tuesday’s sitting, announcing that the case file would be transmitted to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
At the adjourned date, neither EFCC lawyers nor representatives for the respondent were present in court, reportedly due to their attendance at the Call to Bar Ceremony of new lawyers.
EFCC counsel, Ogechi Ujam, had previously informed the court that investigations into Kyari’s financial dealings were still ongoing, hence the need for more time.
The ex-parte motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1641/2025, was filed on August 11. It sought and secured orders freezing several bank accounts, including:
Jaiz Bank account number 0017922724 (Mele Kyari)
Jaiz Bank account number 0018575055 (Guwori Community Development Foundation)
Jaiz Bank account number 0018575141 (Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief)
The EFCC alleged that Kyari is under investigation for offences bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
With the reassignment directive, the case is now expected to come under the purview of another Federal High Court judge designated by the Chief Judge.
