Court Freezes Fidelity Bank Account Linked to Mars Aviation Over Alleged NNPCL Money Laundering Scandal
Court Freezes Fidelity Bank Account Linked to Mars Aviation Over Alleged NNPCL Money Laundering Scandal
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of a Fidelity Bank account belonging to Mars Aviation Limited over alleged money laundering activities connected to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The presiding judge, Justice Musa Liman, granted the order following an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accused the company of being involved in criminal misappropriation and laundering of public funds.
EFCC Secures Court Order to Freeze Account
According to documents obtained by Akahi News, the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1299/2025, was filed on July 1, 2025, and moved by EFCC counsel Geraldine Ofulue. The court issued the freezing order on September 22, pending the conclusion of the Commission’s ongoing investigation.
Ofulue told the court that the Fidelity Bank account, number 5250350283 (C03651082), held by Mars Aviation Limited, was under probe for suspicious inflows allegedly traced to payments from NNPCL. The EFCC requested that its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, or any authorised officer be empowered to direct the bank to restrict transactions on the account until further notice.
EFCC’s Investigation and Findings
In a supporting affidavit, Abdulganiyu Olayide, an EFCC investigator attached to the Special Duties Committee, revealed that the investigation was prompted by intelligence reports alleging that NNPCL made several questionable payments to Mars Aviation for contracts that appeared to be “phoney” and violated the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.
Olayide stated that large sums of money were paid in multiple tranches into the company’s Fidelity Bank account by NNPCL, raising red flags of potential financial misconduct.
“Freezing the account is necessary to preserve the funds and prevent any transactions while the investigation continues,” Olayide said in his affidavit. “I make this affidavit in good faith, believing its contents to be true and correct and in accordance with the Oaths Act.”
Alleged Links to Atiku’s Son-in-law
Reports indicate that Mars Aviation Limited is allegedly owned by Abdullahi Bashir-Haske, the founder and Group Managing Director of AA&R Group, who is also married to the daughter of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
In August 2025, the EFCC declared Bashir-Haske wanted over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering, further intensifying scrutiny around his business activities.
Additionally, TheCable reported that Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, is also under EFCC investigation for allegedly transferring millions of dollars to accounts linked to AA&R Investment Group.
Broader Implications for NNPCL
The freezing of the Mars Aviation account adds to the growing list of corruption-related probes within Nigeria’s oil sector, particularly involving the NNPCL and its private contractors. Analysts believe this case could set a precedent for tighter monitoring of corporate transactions tied to government contracts.
The EFCC has not yet filed formal charges against the suspects but maintains that the funds in question must remain inaccessible until the investigation is complete.
As of press time, NNPCL and Fidelity Bank have not issued official statements regarding the court’s decision or their involvement in the alleged transactions.
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