•IGP Kayode Egbetokun and Omoyele Sowore
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered six financial institutions to supply the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) with details of transactions from January 2024 to date in bank accounts linked to politician, activist and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore and his companies.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order today while ruling on an ex parte application filed by the IGP, which was moved by a police lawyer, Wisdom Madaki. The application was marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, reports The Nation.
The affected financial institutions are United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Opay Digital Services Ltd, Moniepoint and Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd.
It was learnt that no fewer than 26 bank accounts linked to Sowore, including Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and African Action Congress (AAC)’s accounts, among others, are being investigated.
The IGP particularly, prayed for “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 applicant said the order was needed because Sowore “is being investigated for terrorism financing, money laundering and fraudulent activities.
“The complainant had commenced an investigation into the activities of the first respondent (Sowore).
“The accounts in respect of which details were being sought are the accounts which the first respondent is using for terrorism financing and money laundering.”
In a supporting affidavit, it was stated that the police received an intelligence report that Sowore “is using the accounts for terrorism financing, money laundering and receives financial support from a foreign partner for terrorism.”
It added 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 to carry out an investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities of the suspects.
“The office of the complainant receives an intelligent report that the first respondent is using the accounts for terrorism financing, money laundering and receives financial support from foreign partners for terrorism.
“The first respondent is being investigated for terrorism financing, money laundering and fraudulent activities.
“There is a need for the court to grant the relief sought for the purpose of investigation.
“The respondent has been using the accounts for money laundering and terrorism funding, and fraudulent activities.”
