A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered six banks to release account details linked to Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, to the Inspector-General of Police.
The order, issued on Tuesday by Justice Emeka Nwite, affects United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Opay, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank.
The judge directed the banks to provide full account documents and certified statements, showing inflows and outflows from January 2024 till date.
The order followed an ex parte motion filed by the police, which said Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation are under investigation for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraud.
“The accounts for which the statements are sought are those being used by the 1st respondent for terrorism financing and money laundering,” the Inspector-General of Police stated in the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025.
The motion listed Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as the first and second defendants, while the six banks were listed as third to eighth defendants.
In an affidavit filed in support of the motion, Bassey Ibrahim, a police officer in the Legal Section of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, said intelligence reports linked Sowore to suspicious financial transactions.
Ibrahim said, “The respondents are using the accounts for terrorism financing, money laundering, and to receive financial support from foreign partners for terrorism. Securing the court order is necessary to obtain the account statements and investigate these activities.”
He added that granting the request would not harm the respondents, stressing, “I swear to this affidavit in good faith, believing the contents to be true and correct in accordance with the provisions of the Oaths Act, 2024.”
Delivering the ruling, Justice Nwite said the request by the police had merit.
“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 ruled.
