Abuja: The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order directing six banks to provide the Inspector-General of Police with detailed account documents and transaction records, both inflows and outflows, linked to Omoyele Sowore from January 2024 to the present.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the order was issued by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex-parte motion presented by the Inspector-General’s lawyer, Wisdom Madaki. The Inspector-General argued before the court that Sowore, known as the publisher of Sahara Reporters, is currently under investigation for allegations related to terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraudulent activities.
Justice Nwite found the application to be justified, stating, “I have listened to the submission of the 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 News Agency of Nigeria further reports that the Inspector-General, through the ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, named Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as the 1st and 2nd defendants. Additionally, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Opay Digital Services Ltd, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd were included as the 3rd to 8th defendants.
The motion seeks an order directing these banks to provide the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit with account details, including the account opening package, mandate card, and certified true copies of the account statements, reflecting all transfers from January 2024 onwards.
The Inspector-General emphasized the necessity of this court order to facilitate an ongoing investigation, arguing that without it, the police investigation could be compromised. Bassey Ibrahim, a police officer in the Legal Section, Force CID, supported this in an affidavit, claiming intelligence reports indicate Sowore is using these accounts for illicit activities like terrorism financing and money laundering, receiving financial aid from foreign entities.
Ibrahim affirmed the affidavit in good faith, noting that the respondents would not suffer any prejudice from the court’s decision. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, approximately 26 bank accounts connected to Sowore, including those of Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and the African Action Congress (AAC), are under scrutiny.
