The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered six banks to release account details linked to activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore. The banks must provide account documents, mandate cards, and transaction records, including inflows and outflows from January 2024 to date.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the directive on Tuesday after Inspector-General of Police (IGP) counsel, Wisdom Madaki, filed an ex-parte motion.
Sowore Investigated for Alleged Financial Crimes
The police explained that Sowore, founder of Sahara Reporters, is under investigation for terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraudulent activities. According to the IGP, access to the account records is essential to uncover financial movements linked to the allegations.
Justice Nwite agreed and ruled that the motion had merit. He stressed that granting the application was necessary to aid the investigation.
Banks Affected by the Court Order
The affected financial institutions are United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Zenith Bank, Opay Digital Services, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank. They were listed as co-defendants alongside Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation.
The IGP requested that the banks release complete account-opening packages and certified statements showing all transfers.
Police Justify Need for Sowore’s Account Information
In an affidavit, Bassey Ibrahim of the Force CID Legal Section said intelligence reports revealed that Sowore used several accounts for suspicious transactions. He alleged that foreign partners provided financial support through the accounts, linking them to terrorism financing and money laundering.
Ibrahim emphasized that the order was crucial to avoid obstructing the investigation. He also argued that the respondents would not suffer prejudice from the court’s decision.
Over 26 Accounts Linked to Sowore Under Investigation
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 26 accounts connected to Sowore, Sahara Reporters Media Foundation, and the African Action Congress (AAC) are currently under scrutiny. This development marks a major step in the ongoing probe.
