The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday directed six commercial banks to furnish the Inspector-General of Police with full account details and transaction records of Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, from January 2024 to date.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex parte application by the IGP’s lawyer, Wisdom Madaki.
The police said Sowore is under investigation for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and other fraudulent activities. At least 26 bank accounts linked to him, including those operated by Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and the African Action Congress, are reportedly under probe.
In the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation were listed as 1st and 2nd respondents, while United Bank for Africa Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Opay Digital Services Ltd, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd were joined as 3rd to 8th respondents.
The police sought “an order directing UBA Plc, GTB Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Opay Digital Services Ltd, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd to furnish the applicant, through the IGP Monitoring Unit, with the account opening package/mandate card and certified true copies of statements of account reflecting transfers and account numbers of both inflows and outflows from January 2024 to date.”
In a supporting affidavit, Bassey Ibrahim of the Force CID Legal Section alleged that intelligence reports linked the accounts to terrorism financing and laundering of funds, including alleged financial support from foreign partners. He argued that access to the records was crucial for ongoing investigations.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, agreed with the applicant.
“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 held.
