The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed six financial institutions to provide the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) with comprehensive account details belonging to Omoyele Sowore, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraud.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday after listening to an ex parte motion filed by the IGP’s legal team, led by Wisdom Madaki.
The ruling compels the banks to submit complete transaction records including inflows, outflows, and account opening documents covering the period from January 2024 to the present.
The investigation involves 26 accounts linked to Sowore, a prominent political activist, publisher of Sahara Reporters, and founder of the African Action Congress (AAC).
Some of the accounts belong to entities such as Sahara Reporters Media Foundation.
The affected financial institutions named in the suit include:
United Bank for Africa (UBA)
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB)
Zenith Bank
Opay Digital Services
Moniepoint
Kuda Microfinance Bank
Filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, the IGP listed Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as the first and second respondents, respectively. The six banks were named as the 3rd to 8th respondents.
The IGP’s application sought an order for the banks to supply:
“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 five points supporting the motion, the IGP argued that the information was essential to an active criminal investigation into how Sowore allegedly used the accounts for illegal financial activities.
A supporting affidavit filed by Bassey Ibrahim, a police officer from the Legal Section of the Force CID, claimed that intelligence reports indicate Sowore was receiving foreign financial support through these accounts to fund terrorist activities and engage in money laundering.
Ibrahim stated that obtaining these banking details was necessary to advance the investigation and argued that the respondents would suffer no harm or prejudice by the court granting the request.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, agreed with the police application.
“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 said.
