Court Grants Police Access to Sowore’s Bank Records Over Alleged Terrorism Financing
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an order empowering the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to obtain the bank records of activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, over allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraudulent activities.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the ruling on Tuesday in a motion ex parte filed by the IGP’s counsel, Wisdom Madaki. The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, joined Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as the 1st and 2nd respondents, while six financial institutions were listed as the 3rd to 8th defendants.
The police sought an order compelling the banks and fintech platforms to provide Sowore’s account opening documents, mandate cards, and certified true copies of statements of account showing inflows and outflows from January 2024 to date.
Madaki, in his submission, alleged that Sowore was under investigation for using his accounts to facilitate terrorism financing and money laundering.
He argued that granting the order was vital to ongoing investigations, warning that refusal could frustrate the police probe.
Supporting the motion, a police officer attached to the Legal Section of the Force CID, Bassey Ibrahim, stated in a sworn affidavit that intelligence reports indicated Sowore was receiving financial support from foreign partners “for terrorism financing and money laundering.”
“The respondents will not be prejudiced or indemnified by the grant of this application. I swear to this affidavit in good faith, believing the contents to be true and correct in accordance with the provisions of the Oath Act, 2024,” Ibrahim deposed.
Reports suggest that at least 26 bank accounts linked to Sowore, including those of Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and the African Action Congress (AAC), are currently under scrutiny.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the IGP’s application had merit.
“I have listened to the submission of counsel to the applicant and have also gone through the affidavit evidence. I am of the view and so hold that the application is meritorious,” the judge ruled.
The development marks a significant escalation in the Federal Government’s investigation of Sowore, who has been a vocal critic of successive administrations and a prominent pro-democracy campaigner.
