The Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja on Tuesday authorised the Inspector-Basic of Police’s request for six monetary establishments to furnish it with bank transactions involving activist Omoyele Sowore from January 2024 thus far.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order in a movement ex parte filed by the IGP’s lawyer, Knowledge Madaki.
Within the movement, the IGP alleged earlier than the courtroom that Sowore, the writer of Sahara Reporters, is being investigated over allegations regarding terrorism financing, cash laundering, and fraudulent actions.
IGP Allegations
The IGP, within the ex parte movement marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, named Sowore and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as the first and 2nd defendants, based on NAN.
The applicant additionally joined monetary establishments because the third to eighth defendants, respectively.
The IGP requested an order directing the named banks and fintech platforms to supply the workplace of the Inspector-Basic of Police Monitoring Unit with Sowore’s account opening bundle/mandate card, licensed true copies of statements of account reflecting transfers with account numbers of each inflows and outflows “from January 2024 until date.”
Itemizing the grounds for the applying, Madaki alleged that Sowore “is being investigated for terrorism financing, cash laundering, and fraudulent actions.”
“That the complainant has commenced investigation into the actions of the first respondent.
“That the accounts for which the statements are being sought are these utilized by the first respondent for terrorism financing and cash laundering,” he added.
In line with him, the courtroom’s granting of the aid sought is critical for the investigation, and failure to grant the order may jeopardise the police investigation.
Within the affidavit connected to the movement, Bassey Ibrahim, a police officer within the Authorized Part, Drive CID, acknowledged that his workplace obtained an intelligence report that Sowore “is utilizing the accounts for terrorism financing and cash laundering and receives monetary help from overseas companions for terrorism.”
He added, “The respondents is not going to be prejudiced or indemnified by the grant of this software.
“I swear to this affidavit in good religion, believing the contents to be true and proper in accordance with the provisions of the Oath Act, 2024,” he deposed.
Stories point out that about 26 bank accounts linked to Sowore, together with Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and African Motion Congress (AAC) accounts, amongst others, are being investigated.
Ruling
Ruling on the applying, Justice Nwite held that the IGP’s request was meritorious.
“I’ve listened to the submission of counsel to the applicant and have additionally gone by means of the affidavit proof.
“I’m of the view and so maintain that the applying is meritorious,” he dominated.
He granted the prayer as requested.
Backstory
In January this yr, Sowore was granted N10 million bail by a Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja within the alleged cybercrime expenses instituted towards him by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Sowore, a former presidential candidate, has been a frontline critic of the present authorities and related establishments, citing alleged corruption.
- The Federal Authorities had, in 2019, arraigned and prosecuted Sowore and Bakare on an amended cost of treasonable felony in a go well with marked FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019.
- The duo was alleged to have incited a revolution towards the federal government of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
- Nonetheless, they pleaded not responsible.
- The case lingered for years with restrictions positioned on Sowore’s actions inside Abuja, however the expenses have been finally discontinued by the Legal professional-Basic of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
Nairametrics remembers that the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja had, in early 2024, struck out the treasonable felony expenses towards Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare following their discontinuance by the AGF.
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