The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered six banks to furnish the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) with details of accounts and all transactions, including inflows and outflows, linked to activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, from January 2024 to date.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order after counsel to the IGP, Wisdom Madaki, moved an ex parte motion seeking the release of the financial records.

In the motion, the police told the court that Sowore is under investigation for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraudulent activities.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the application had merit.

“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 said.

The ex parte application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, listed Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as 1st and 2nd defendants, while United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Opay Digital Services Ltd, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd were joined as 3rd to 8th defendants.

The IGP specifically sought an order directing the six financial institutions to provide account opening documents, mandate cards, and certified statements of account reflecting all inflows and outflows from January 2024 to date.

In support of the motion, a police officer attached to the Legal Section of the Force CID, Bassey Ibrahim, deposed in an affidavit that intelligence reports indicated Sowore was allegedly using the accounts for terrorism financing and money laundering, with suspected financial support from foreign partners.

He said the order was crucial to enable the police to obtain account statements for a thorough investigation into the alleged activities, adding that failure to secure the order could jeopardize ongoing inquiries.

According to him, the application was made in good faith and would not prejudice the respondents.