A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of a Fidelity Bank account belonging to Mars Aviation Limited over alleged money laundering linked to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Justice Musa Liman, who presided over the case, issued the order after considering an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1299/2025, was filed on July 1 and argued by EFCC counsel, Geraldine Ofulue.
Ofulue informed the court that the account was under investigation for alleged criminal misappropriation and money laundering. She therefore requested that the account be frozen pending the conclusion of the probe.
Ruling on the application, Justice Liman held that the EFCC’s request had merit and approved the order, which was issued on September 22.
The EFCC sought an order empowering its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, or any authorised officer to direct the managing director of Fidelity Bank to freeze the account.
According to court filings, the account number 5250350283 (C03651082) belongs to Mars Aviation Limited.
In an affidavit supporting the motion, Abdulganiyu Olayide, an EFCC investigator with the commission’s special duties committee, stated that his team was assigned to handle the investigation.
Olayide explained that the probe was initiated after receiving intelligence suggesting that NNPCL made several payments to Mars Aviation for “purported contracts” that were allegedly fraudulent and awarded in violation of the Procurement Act.
Preliminary findings, according to him, indicated that large sums were deposited by NNPCL into the company’s Fidelity Bank account in multiple instalments.
He said the commission considered it necessary to freeze the account to preserve the funds and halt any transactions while the investigation continues.
“That I make this affidavit in good faith, believing its contents to be true and correct and in accordance with the Oaths Act,” Olayide stated.
Reports indicate that Mars Aviation Limited is allegedly owned by Abdullahi Bashir-Haske, founder and group managing director of AA&R, who is married to the daughter of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
In August, Haske was declared wanted by the EFCC over alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Earlier, TheCable reported that Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, was also under investigation for alleged money laundering related to the transfer of millions of dollars to the AA&R Investment Group’s account.