A group of Abuja-based lawyers has filed a petition before the Attorney General of the State of New York, United States of America, calling for a sweeping investigation into the financial dealings of Sahara Media Group Incorporated and its founder, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, over alleged inconsistencies in nonprofit reporting, tax filings, and asset declarations.
The petition, dated October 7, 2025, and filed through Heartland Advisors & Solicitors, was submitted at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja. The lawyers, Barrister Sunday Oluwole and Barrister Felix Olanrewaju Wolemiwa, also demanded the suspension or invalidation of Sowore’s U.S. travel documents pending the outcome of the investigations.
In the petition titled “Request for Investigation into Financial Activities of Sahara Media Group Inc. and Mr. Omoyele Sowore,” the lawyers alleged that the media entrepreneur and political activist may have violated U.S. nonprofit and tax laws through questionable financial reporting and undeclared assets.
“We respectfully request your office’s review of the financial activities of Sahara Media Group Inc., a New York-registered entity, and its founder, Mr. Omoyele Sowore,” the petition stated. “This request stems from concerns about potential discrepancies in nonprofit financial reporting, tax compliance, and asset declarations, which may impact both U.S. and Nigerian public interests.”
According to the lawyers, Sahara Media Group received a $1.3 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation between 2016 and 2019 for journalist training in Nigeria, but they alleged that there has been limited public reporting on how the funds were utilized, contrary to transparency obligations under New York nonprofit laws.
They also accused Sowore of possible asset concealment, claiming that while he declared to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2023 ownership of only one property worth ₦5 million and a 2008 Toyota Camry, public records in the U.S. reportedly show he purchased a $552,000 property in 2018, which may not have been disclosed in his INEC filings.
The lawyers further raised concerns about Sowore’s financial capacity and lifestyle, noting that his son attends the Dwight-Englewood School in New Jersey, where tuition costs about $59,235 annually, alongside his political campaign expenditures in Nigeria.
“These appear inconsistent with the reported financial strength of Sahara Media Group, which operates primarily as a media outlet. A review of his income sources and tax compliance could clarify whether these are supported by legitimate, reported earnings,” the petitioners stated.
They also cited the temporary suspension of a $2 million GoFundMe fundraiser for Sowore’s Take Back Nigeria Movement in 2018, which they said raises further questions about the legality of funds raised under U.S. charitable solicitation laws.
The petitioners urged the U.S. authorities to:
Investigate Sahara Media Group’s financial records, including the MacArthur Foundation grant;
Review Mr. Sowore’s tax filings for compliance with U.S. laws;
Determine whether nonprofit funds were diverted for personal or political use; and
Suspend or revoke Sowore’s U.S. travel documents pending the outcome of investigations.
“This petition is made in good faith to promote accountability and transparency, and to safeguard the integrity of nonprofit operations in New York while upholding public trust in cross-border political activities,” the lawyers concluded.
