A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) an order to scrutinise the bank accounts of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
The order, granted by Justice Emeka Nwite, covers accounts with United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Zenith Bank, Opay Digital Services, Moniepoint and Kuda Microfinance Bank. It spans from January 2024 till date.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite said, “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 suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025 was filed by the IGP through his counsel, Wisdom Madaki.
Court papers listed Sowore and the Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as first and second respondents, while the six banks were named as third to eighth respondents.
The police told the court that Sowore was being investigated for “terrorism financing, money laundering and fraudulent activities.”
They also claimed the accounts “may be the accounts which the 1st respondent is using for terrorism financing and money laundering.”
In an affidavit, an officer in the legal section of the Force CID, Bassey Ibrahim, alleged that “the 1st respondent is using the accounts for terrorism financing, money laundering and receives financial support from foreign partner for terrorism.”
He added that obtaining the account records was necessary to aid the investigation.
At least 26 accounts linked to Sowore, Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and his party, the African Action Congress (AAC), are reportedly under investigation.
The IGP has also engaged the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to monitor Sowore’s financial transactions.
Sowore, however, has accused the police of political harassment. He has repeatedly clashed with the IGP’s Monitoring Unit, describing its invitations as a “soap opera.” He also insists he will not meet with the police boss, whom he claims is no longer legitimately in office.
Earlier in August, Sowore was detained after honouring a police invitation. He was later charged with inciting mutiny over a protest he led in July calling for better welfare and pensions for retired police officers.
Sowore, who founded Sahara Reporters in 2006, was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election.
