The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered six banks to furnish the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) with account opening documents and detailed transaction records linked to activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, from January 2024 to date.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday after counsel to the IGP, Wisdom Madaki, moved an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025.
In the motion, the police said Sowore is under investigation for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraudulent activities.
No fewer than 26 bank accounts connected to Sowore, the Sahara Reporters Media Foundation, and the African Action Congress (AAC) are reportedly under probe.
The banks and financial institutions joined as 3rd to 8th defendants are United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Opay Digital Services Ltd, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd.
The IGP sought an order directing the banks to release Sowore’s account mandates, opening packages, and certified true copies of statements of account reflecting inflows and outflows within the period under review.
In his supporting affidavit, Bassey Ibrahim, a police officer attached to the Force CID Legal Section, alleged that Sowore was using the bank accounts for terrorism financing and money laundering, including receiving support from foreign partners.
The affidavit read in part:
“That securing the court’s order is necessary to enable the police obtain the account statements and properly investigate the alleged fraudulent activities of the respondents.”
Ruling on the application, Justice Nwite held that the request was meritorious and granted it as prayed.
“I have listened to the submissions of counsel to the applicant, and I have also gone through the affidavit evidence. I am of the view, and so hold, that the application is meritorious. The prayer is hereby granted as prayed,” the judge ruled.
With the court’s decision, the listed banks are expected to release full account details of Sowore and his organisations to aid the police investigation.
