A court has ordered the arrest of former Super Eagles star, Austin Okocha, over tax evasion charges.
This was ordered by the Lagos Division of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.
Jay Jay Okocha has repeatedly failed to appear before the court to answer why he allegedly failed to pay his income taxes.
Premiumtimes
reports that 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 ordered that the warrant is 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.
Source:- Premiumtimesng
Leave a Reply