Human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner, Omoyele Sowore, has filed a lawsuit against Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), seeking N100 million in damages.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is demanding compensation for the damage caused by the prolonged freezing of his accounts.
The suit was filed by his counsel, Inibehe Effiong Esq., at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Lagos Judicial Division, with case number FHC/L/CS/ /2024.
According to court documents, Sowore opened accounts with GTB in 2015. However, the bank froze the accounts in 2019 without providing any valid reason or notifying him, thereby restricting his access to his funds.
Sowore’s legal counsel, Inibehe Effiong, stated that the arbitrary freezing of Sowore’s accounts without due process is not only unlawful but also a blatant infringement on his fundamental rights.
The activist is requesting the court to order GTB to unfreeze his accounts immediately and to award him ₦100 million in damages for the violation of his rights.
Sowore said, “Despite my demand letter, the Respondent has refused to lift the restriction it placed on my accounts neither has it paid any form of compensation to me. I state for a fact that since the restriction placed on my accounts, I have been unable to access the funds contained in those accounts.
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“My inability to access the funds in my restricted accounts have also frustrated my business activities as I have overdue bills and expenses which I am yet to discharge.
The Respondent’s restriction on my accounts has caused me huge financial embarrassment as on various occasions, I have had to borrow money from people in order to meet my day-to-day needs.”
