A Federal High Court has ordered six banks to release Omoyele Sowore’s financial records.
The directive empowers police to probe alleged terrorism financing and money laundering activities.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed six financial institutions to hand over detailed account information and transaction histories linked to human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore.
The order, issued on Tuesday by Justice Emeka Nwite, compels the banks to provide the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, with records covering both inflows and outflows from January 2024 to date. The directive followed an ex-parte motion filed by the IGP’s counsel, Wisdom Madaki.
According to the court filings, Sowore founder of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) is being investigated for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and related financial crimes. The application also listed Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as a respondent.
Justice Nwite, after reviewing the police submissions and affidavit evidence, ruled that the application had merit. He granted the police request to access the financial documents, stressing that the relief sought was necessary to aid ongoing investigations.
The affected institutions include United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Zenith Bank, Opay Digital Services, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank. These banks are now mandated to supply the police with account opening packages, mandate cards, and certified copies of account statements connected to Sowore and the organizations under probe.
In an affidavit attached to the motion, a police officer, Bassey Ibrahim of the Force CID Legal Section, claimed that intelligence reports suggested Sowore was using several accounts to channel funds for terrorism-related activities and to receive financial support from foreign associates. He argued that access to the banking details would allow investigators to trace suspicious transactions and strengthen the case against the activist.
The IGP maintained that granting the order would not cause prejudice to the respondents, adding that the request was made in good faith and in compliance with the Oath Act of 2024.
Reports indicate that at least 26 accounts belonging to Sowore, Sahara Reporters Media Foundation, and the AAC are currently under scrutiny. The court’s ruling is expected to accelerate the inquiry as the police intensify efforts to determine the scope of the alleged financial irregularities.
