…Tax Filings, Visa Suspension, Others
A bunch of legal professionals based mostly in Abuja have petitioned the Lawyer Common of the State of New York, United States of America, looking for investigations into the monetary actions of Sahara Media Group Integrated and its proprietor, Mr Omoyele Sowore.
The legal professionals, in a petition on their behalf by Heartland Advisors & Solicitors, dated October 7, 2025, and submitted at the USA Embassy in Abuja yesterday, additionally demanded a “suspension, and or invalidation of Sowore’s U.S journey paperwork.”
Calls for within the petition signed by Barrister Sunday Oluwole and Barrister Felix Olanrewaju Wolemiwa, additionally embrace; “Examination of Sahara Media Group Inc.’s monetary information, together with the MacArthur Basis grant, for compliance with New York nonprofit legal guidelines (e.g., N-PCL § 112), examine whether or not funds raised by Sahara Media Group Inc. are used for his or her supposed charitable functions or diverted to non-public or political actions and evaluate Mr. Sowore’s particular person and company tax filings for compliance with U.S. tax legal guidelines, notably relating to revenue supporting his U.S. property and way of life.”
The petition titled; “Request for Investigation into Monetary Actions of Sahara Media Group Inc. and Mr. Omoyele Sowore,” learn; “We’re writing to respectfully request your workplace’s evaluate of the monetary actions of Sahara Media Group Inc., a New York-registered entity, and its founder, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, a Nigerian citizen residing in the USA. This request stems from issues about potential discrepancies in nonprofit monetary reporting, tax compliance, and asset declarations, which can influence each U.S. and Nigerian public pursuits.
“Mr. Sowore, a distinguished activist and former Nigerian presidential candidate (2019, 2023), operates Sahara Media Group Inc., which runs Sahara Reporters. Public information increase questions in regards to the group’s monetary transparency and Mr. Sowore’s private monetary disclosures, notably given his political actions overseas.”
They listed their key issues to incorporate; nonprofit Funding and Transparency, noting that Sahara Media Group Inc. acquired a $1.3 million grant from the MacArthur Basis (2016–2019) for journalist coaching in Nigeria, and alleging that restricted public reporting on the utilization of those funds raises issues about compliance with New York nonprofit legal guidelines requiring transparency and correct use of charitable funds.
“On asset declaration discrepancies, the legal professionals alleged that “In 2023, Mr. Sowore reportedly declared to Nigeria’s Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) possession of a single Nigerian property valued at ₦5 million and a 2008 Toyota Camry. Nonetheless, public information point out he bought a U.S. property round 2018, valued at roughly $552,000, which can not have been disclosed in his INEC submitting. This raises questions on potential concealment of belongings or perjury underneath Nigerian legislation, with attainable U.S. tax implications if unreported.”
Elevating questions on Sowore’s monetary capability and way of life, the legal professionals stated, “Reviews recommend Mr Sowore’s son attends Dwight-Englewood Faculty in New Jersey, with annual tuition of roughly $59,235 (2024–2025). This, alongside his political marketing campaign expenditures in Nigeria, seems inconsistent with the reported monetary capability of Sahara Media Group Inc., which operates primarily as a media outlet. A evaluate of his revenue sources and tax compliance may make clear whether or not these are supported by reliable, reported earnings.”
In addition they stated that “In 2018, GoFundMe quickly suspended a $2 million fundraiser for Mr. Sowore’s ‘Take Again Nigeria Motion’ resulting from issues about its objective. Although later restored, this incident warrants scrutiny to make sure funds raised in New York adjust to charitable solicitation legal guidelines.”
“Given your workplace’s authority to supervise nonprofit organizations registered in New York, I respectfully request that you simply look at Sahara Media Group Inc.’s monetary information, together with the MacArthur Basis grant, for compliance with New York nonprofit legal guidelines (e.g., N-PCL § 112), examine whether or not funds raised by Sahara Media Group Inc. are used for his or her supposed charitable functions or diverted to non-public or political actions, evaluate Mr. Sowore’s particular person and company tax filings for compliance with U.S. tax legal guidelines, notably relating to revenue supporting his U.S. property and way of life and droop, and or invalidate his U.S journey paperwork.
“This request is made in good religion to advertise accountability and transparency, defending the integrity of nonprofit operations in New York and public belief in cross-border political actions.”
The submit Abuja Legal professionals petition US Lawyer Common towards Sowore, search probe of economic actions appeared first on Vanguard Information.
