The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed six commercial banks to release the account details and transaction history of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, to the Inspector-General of Police.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday after granting an ex parte application filed by the IGP’s counsel, Wisdom Madaki.
According to the police, Sowore is under investigation for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and other financial crimes.
At least 26 bank accounts linked to him, Sahara Reporters Media Foundation, and the African Action Congress are reportedly being scrutinised.
The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, listed Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as the 1st and 2nd respondents, while United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Opay Digital Services, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank were named as the 3rd to 8th respondents.
The police had sought an order compelling the banks to provide account opening documents, mandate cards, and certified true copies of statements of account showing all inflows and outflows from January 2024 to date.
In a supporting affidavit, Bassey Ibrahim of the Force CID Legal Section alleged that intelligence reports linked the accounts to terrorism financing and laundering activities, including alleged foreign funding.
He maintained that access to the bank records was critical to the ongoing investigation.
In granting the request, Justice Nwite ruled: “I have listened to the submissions of counsel to the applicant and I have also gone through the affidavit evidence.
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“I am of the view, and so hold, that the application is meritorious. The prayer is hereby granted as prayed.”
