A Lagos Division of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere has
issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Super Eagles star,
Austin Okocha, over tax evasion charges, Premium Times reports.
Mr Okocha – or Jay Jay Okocha as he is popularly known – has
repeatedly failed to appear before the court to answer why he allegedly
failed to pay his income taxes.
Adedayo Akintoye, the judge, issued the warrant for the arrest of
the former Eagles captain on January 29 and thereafter adjourned until
February 19.
However, on February 19, the prosecution had not effected the
arrest forcing the judge to, again, adjourn till April 15 and ordering
that the warrant be executed by then.
The football star is facing a three-count charge instituted by the
Lagos State Ministry of Justice bordering on failure to furnish his
income returns and nonpayment of tax.
The state filed the charges through its prosecutor, Jide Martins, in June 2017 and the suit began four months later.
The defendant, however, had failed to appear in court.
After several adjournments without Mr Okocha appearing despite
having been served the court papers, Mr Martins prayed the court to
issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
According to the prosecutor, Mr Okocha had failed to furnish his
income returns for tax purposes to the Lagos State Internal Revenue
Service.
Mr Martins also said that the defendant had failed to pay his income taxes.
He said the offences contravened Sections 56 (a) and (b) of the
Lagos State Revenue Administration Law No. 8, 2006 and Section 94 (1) of
the Personal Income Tax Act Cap P8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
2004.
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