Court orders 6 banks to furnish I-G with details of accounts linked to Sowore

By Taiye Agbaje

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, ordered six banks to furnish the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police with details of accounts linked to Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters.

The court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after I-G‘s lawyer, Wisdom Madaki, moved an ex-parte motion to the effect.

Madaki hinged his request on allegation that Sowore is being investigated for terrorism financing, money laundering and fraudulent activities.

The banks are the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Opay Digital Services Ltd, Moniepoint and Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd.

About 26 bank accounts linked to Sowore, including Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and African Action Congress (AAC)’s accounts, among others, are being investigated.

The Court said the banks should furnish the IG with all documents and all transactions, including inflows and outflows of the bank accounts linked to Sowore from January 2024 till date.

Justice Nwite, in a ruling, held that the application was meritorious.

“I have listened to the submission of the 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 ruled.

The I-G, in the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, had sued Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as 1st and 2nd defendants.

The applicant joined the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Opay Digital Services Ltd, Moniepoint and Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd as 3rd to 8th defendants respectively.

The I-G sought “an order directing the following banks; UBA Plc, GTB plc, ZENITH Bank Plc, Opay Digital Services Limited, Moniepoint and Kuda Microfinance Bank Limited to furnished the applicant through the office of the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit account opening package/mandate card, certified true copy of the statement of account reflecting transfers with account numbers of both inflows and outflows from January, 2024 till date.”

The I-G, in the five-ground of argument, said Sowore “is being investigated for terrorism financing, money laundering and fraudulent activities.

“That the complainant had commenced investigation in the activities of the 1st respondent.

“That the accounts seeking to obtain the statement of accounts are the accounts which the 1st respondent is using for terrorism financing and money laundering.”

The applicant said there was need for the court to grant the relief sought for the purpose of investigation and that if the order was not granted, it would jeopardise the police investigation.

Also in the affidavit attached to the motion, Bassey Ibrahim, a police officer in the Legal Section, Force CID, alleged that his office received intelligent report that Sowore “is using the accounts for terrorism financing, money laundering and receives financial support from foreign partner for terrorism.”

Ibrahim averred that there was a need for the police to secure the order of the court to obtain the statements of the accounts to enable the office carry out investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities of the suspects.

“That the respondents will not be prejudiced or indemnified by the grant of this application.

“That I swear to this affidavit in good faith believing the content to be true and correct in accordance with the provision of the Oath Act, 2024,” he deposed.

Sowore, a former students’ union leader and activist have had a running battle with the police at different different fronts over the years.

Recently, he had had a running battle with the Kayode Egbetokun led police management team for leading protests to demand for fair pension for retired police officers.

He has also called for removal of Egbetokun from office as he noted that the police chief has long due for retirement, though President Bola Tinubu allowed him to stay on in office.