Human rights activist and pro-democracy advocate, Omoyele Sowore, has filed a lawsuit against Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), seeking N100 million in damages over the prolonged freezing of his accounts. Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), claims the account restrictions have caused significant harm, including financial and reputational damage.
The lawsuit, initiated by Sowore’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong Esq., was filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, under case number FHC/L/CS/ /2024. According to court filings, Sowore had opened accounts with GTB in 2015, but the bank unilaterally froze them in 2019 without providing any explanation or prior notification, effectively barring him from accessing his funds.
Effiong stated that the bank’s decision to freeze Sowore’s accounts without following due legal process constitutes an unlawful and unjustified violation of his client’s fundamental rights. The lawsuit calls for the immediate unfreezing of the accounts and demands N100 million in compensation for the financial losses and emotional distress caused by the bank’s actions.
Sowore explained, “Despite sending a formal demand letter, GTB has refused to lift the restrictions on my accounts or offer any form of compensation. Since the accounts were frozen, I’ve been unable to access the funds, which has severely impacted my business and personal finances.”
