Court Freezes Bank Account Linked To Atiku’s Son-In-Law Over ‘Phoney’ NNPC Contracts

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of a Fidelity Bank account owned by Mars Aviation Limited over alleged money laundering linked to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Justice Musa Liman issued the order after considering an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1299/2025, was filed on July 1 and moved by EFCC counsel, Geraldine Ofulue.

Ofulue told the court that the company’s account was under investigation for suspected criminal misappropriation and money laundering.

She urged the court to freeze the account until investigations are complete.

In his ruling, Justice Liman said the EFCC’s request had merit and approved the order on September 22.

The court also empowered the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, or any authorized official to direct Fidelity Bank to enforce the freeze on account number 5250350283, belonging to Mars Aviation Limited.

An affidavit by EFCC investigator Abdulganiyu Olayide, said the agency launched the probe after receiving intelligence that NNPCL made multiple payments to Mars Aviation for phoney and questionable contracts that violated the Procurement Act.

Olayide stated that preliminary findings showed large sums of money were deposited into the company’s account in several tranches.

He explained that the freeze was necessary to protect the funds and prevent further transactions while the investigation is ongoing.

Olayide affirmed under oath that his statement was made in good faith and in line with the Oaths Act.

Reports suggest that Mars Aviation Limited is allegedly owned by Abdullahi Bashir-Haske, founder and Group Managing Director of AA&R, who is married to a daughter of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

KanyiDaily recalls that in August, the EFCC declared Abdullahi Bashir-Haske wanted for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering.