Abuja lawyers petition U.S. Attorney General, demand probe of Sowore’s finances, tax filings, visa status

A coalition of Abuja-based lawyers has petitioned the Attorney General of the State of New York, United States, urging an investigation into the financial dealings of Sahara Media Group Incorporated and its founder, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

The petition, dated October 7, 2025, and submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, was filed by Heartland Advisors & Solicitors on behalf of the lawyers.

It called for a comprehensive review of Sowore’s personal and corporate financial activities, tax compliance, and the suspension or revocation of his U.S. travel documents.

The petition, signed by Barristers Sunday Oluwole and Felix Olanrewaju Wolemiwa, demanded that U.S. authorities examine Sahara Media Group Inc.’s financial records, including grants from the MacArthur Foundation, for compliance with New York nonprofit laws.

It also urged them to determine whether funds raised by the organization were properly used for charitable purposes or diverted for political or personal use, and to review Mr. Sowore’s tax filings and income declarations to verify compliance with U.S. tax regulations, particularly concerning his assets and lifestyle in the United States.

In the document titled “Request for Investigation into Financial Activities of Sahara Media Group Inc. and Mr. Omoyele Sowore,” the lawyers stated that their concerns stem from “potential discrepancies in nonprofit financial reporting, tax compliance, and asset declarations which may affect both U.S. and Nigerian public interests.”

The petition noted that Sowore, a two-time Nigerian presidential candidate and founder of Sahara Reporters, operates Sahara Media Group Inc., registered in New York.

According to the petitioners, public records raise questions about the organization’s transparency and Sowore’s personal financial disclosures, given his political activities and sources of income.

They cited a $1.3 million MacArthur Foundation grant awarded to Sahara Media Group between 2016 and 2019 for journalist training in Nigeria, alleging that there has been limited public accounting for how the funds were utilized, contrary to transparency obligations under New York nonprofit laws.

The petition also pointed to alleged asset declaration inconsistencies, claiming that Sowore’s 2023 declaration to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed only one property worth ₦5 million and a 2008 Toyota Camry, while U.S. property records reportedly show he acquired a house in 2018 valued at about $552,000.

The lawyers argued that the alleged omission could constitute concealment of assets or perjury in Nigeria and raise red flags under U.S. tax laws.

They further questioned Sowore’s financial capacity, citing reports that his son attends Dwight-Englewood School in New Jersey, where annual tuition stands at $59,235, alongside the activist’s political spending in Nigeria.

They claimed these expenditures appear inconsistent with the known financial operations of Sahara Media Group, which functions primarily as a media outlet.

The petitioners also referenced a 2018 GoFundMe campaign for Sowore’s “Take Back Nigeria Movement,” which was temporarily suspended over concerns about its purpose, arguing that the episode underscores the need for closer scrutiny of his fundraising activities.

“Given your office’s oversight of nonprofit organizations registered in New York, we respectfully request a full investigation into Sahara Media Group Inc. and Mr. Sowore’s financial and tax records,” the petition read.

“We also urge the suspension or invalidation of his U.S. travel documents pending the outcome of the investigation.”

According to the lawyers, the petition was filed “in good faith” to promote transparency and accountability, and to safeguard public trust in nonprofit operations and cross-border political activities.