The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed six commercial banks to release full account details and transaction records of Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, to the Inspector-General of Police.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by the IGP’s counsel, Wisdom Madaki.
According to the police, Sowore is currently under investigation for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and other fraudulent activities. At least 26 accounts linked to him, including those operated by Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and the African Action Congress (AAC), are said to be under probe.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, listed Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as the 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 the 3rd to 8th respondents.
The police specifically sought an order directing the six financial institutions to furnish the IGP Monitoring Unit with Sowore’s account opening packages, mandate cards, and certified true copies of statements of accounts—covering both inflows and outflows—from January 2024 to date.
In a supporting affidavit, Bassey Ibrahim of the Force CID Legal Section claimed that intelligence reports had linked the accounts to terrorism financing and money laundering, alleging foreign financial support was also involved. He argued that gaining access to the records was critical for the investigation.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite upheld the 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 stated.
