The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered six commercial banks to provide the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) with the account details and transaction history of Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, covering the period from January 2024 to date.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the directive on Tuesday after granting an ex parte application filed by the IGP’s counsel, Wisdom Madaki.
The police informed the court that Sowore is under investigation for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and other financial crimes. According to court filings, at least 26 bank accounts linked to him, including those operated by the Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and the African Action Congress (AAC), are being scrutinized.
In the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, Sowore and the Sahara Reporters Media Foundation were listed as the 1st and 2nd respondents. 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 access to account opening documents, mandate cards, and certified copies of statements of account reflecting all inflows and outflows within the specified period.
In a supporting affidavit, Bassey Ibrahim of the Force CID Legal Section alleged that intelligence reports linked the accounts to terrorism financing and illicit funds, including alleged support from foreign partners. He argued that access to the records was essential to ongoing investigations.
Justice Nwite, in granting the order, said: “I have listened to the submissions of counsel to the applicant and 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.”
