A group of Abuja-based lawyers has filed a petition with the Attorney General of the State of New York, United States, calling for a formal investigation into the financial dealings of Sahara Media Group Incorporated and its founder, Omoyele Sowore.
The petition, submitted through Heartland Advisors & Solicitors on October 7, 2025, and delivered to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, also urged American authorities to suspend or revoke Sowore’s U.S. travel documents. Signed by barristers Sunday Oluwole and Felix Olanrewaju Wolemiwa, the petition alleges irregularities in the company’s financial reporting and Sowore’s personal asset declarations, which they claim could have implications under both U.S. and Nigerian laws.
The lawyers specifically requested that U.S. authorities review Sahara Media Group’s financial records, including the $1.3 million MacArthur Foundation grant (2016–2019), to determine whether the funds were utilized for their stated charitable objectives or diverted for political or personal purposes. They cited possible violations of New York nonprofit corporation laws (N-PCL §112) and demanded an examination of Sowore’s corporate and individual tax filings to confirm compliance with U.S. tax regulations. The petition also called for scrutiny of the company’s funding transparency and reporting practices, suggesting that limited public disclosure raises questions about accountability and adherence to nonprofit standards.
The petitioners further alleged discrepancies in Sowore’s asset declarations to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during his presidential campaigns. According to them, while Sowore declared ownership of a single Nigerian property valued at ₦5 million and a 2008 Toyota Camry, U.S. property records reportedly show he acquired a house in 2018 worth approximately $552,000. The lawyers argued that this gap could point to possible concealment of assets or perjury under Nigerian law, in addition to potential tax violations under U.S. jurisdiction.
They also questioned Sowore’s financial capacity and lifestyle, referencing reports that his son attends the Dwight-Englewood School in New Jersey, where annual tuition exceeds $59,000, alongside the significant expenses incurred during his Nigerian political campaigns.
The petition cited a 2018 incident where GoFundMe temporarily suspended a $2 million fundraiser for Sowore’s “Take Back Nigeria Movement” over transparency concerns, asserting that such matters warrant further review. The lawyers emphasized that their petition seeks to promote accountability and transparency, safeguard the integrity of nonprofit operations in New York, and uphold public trust in cross-border political and financial activities.