Simon Guobadia Rejects Federal Tax Charges, Cites Oil Industry Margins
The businessman and former husband of Porsha Williams argues DOJ prosecutors misinterpreted his financial records in a new indictment.
By Marta Gray ·
Federal prosecutors indicted Simon Guobadia on Tuesday in a U.S. District Court in Georgia, alleging the entrepreneur helped prepare and file false tax returns. The indictment charges Guobadia with two counts of aiding in the preparation of fraudulent filings, a claim he has publicly rejected as a misunderstanding of his business practices.
Court documents state that Guobadia underreported his income and his company's sales over a five-month period in 2021. In March of that year, he reported $0 in taxable income despite prosecutors alleging he earned substantially more. In July, he claimed $58,231 in taxable income while his company, Simcol Petroleum Limited, reported nearly $31 million in gross sales. Prosecutors assert that Guobadia knew his actual income and sales figures were significantly higher than the amounts submitted to the government.
Guobadia issued a statement to push back against the charges, leaning on his professional background in accounting. He stated that as a former tax accountant and CPA, he understands the weight of the charges but remains confident that the Department of Justice misinterpreted his financial records. He argued that oil companies do not typically overstate the cost of goods sold or the federal taxes they collect and pay on behalf of the government. Guobadia noted that his deductions for these payments can be independently verified and emphasized that profit margins in the oil industry are thin.
The indictment adds to a series of legal disputes involving Guobadia and his ex-wife, Porsha Williams. The couple married in November 2022 and divorced in June 2025 after a contentious process. Williams secured their multimillion-dollar Atlanta home and a seven-figure settlement during the proceedings. She cited issues with Guobadia's immigration status and alleged dishonesty as key factors in her decision to file for divorce. Guobadia was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2025 and deported to Nigeria, where he remains unable to legally re-enter the United States.
An arrest warrant for Guobadia has been issued, though it is not yet clear if he has been taken into custody. The federal charges remain pending as both sides present their financial arguments to the court.
The next steps in the case will depend on whether Guobadia is detained and how the court rules on the specific financial records of Simcol Petroleum Limited. Prosecutors must prove that Guobadia knowingly filed false returns, while his defense will focus on the standard accounting practices of the petroleum sector.
