A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered six banks to provide the Inspector-General of Police with account details and transaction records linked to Omoyele Sowore.
The order covers all transactions from January 2024 to date. Justice Emeka Nwite issued the ruling on Tuesday after hearing an ex parte motion filed by the IGP’s counsel, Wisdom Madaki.
The IGP stated that Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, is under investigation for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraud.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite said, “Having considered the arguments and supporting affidavit, I find the application meritorious. The request is granted.”
The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, lists Sowore and the Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as the 1st and 2nd respondents. The six banks named as 3rd to 8th respondents are: United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Opay Digital Services Ltd, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank.
The police requested certified copies of account opening documents, mandate cards, and account statements showing all inflows and outflows from the specified period. According to the application, Sowore is suspected of using the accounts for illegal financial transactions, including receiving funds to support terrorism.
In a supporting affidavit, Bassey Ibrahim, a police officer in the Force Criminal Investigation Department, stated that intelligence reports indicate the accounts are being used to receive foreign funds for terrorism-related activities. He added that the court order was necessary to proceed with the investigation and would not cause harm to the respondents.
The investigation involves at least 26 accounts linked to Sowore, the Sahara Reporters Media Foundation, and the African Action Congress.
