Justice Adedayo Akintoye of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere,
on Monday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a former Super
Eagles captain, Augustine Okocha, aka Jay Jay Okocha, over alleged tax
evasion.
Justice Akintoye made the order following Okocha’s alleged failure to
settle a 2017 income tax evasion case brought against him by the Lagos
State Government.
On January 29, 2019, the same court ordered Okocha’s arrest for
failing severally to appear in court to defend himself on the allegation
of tax evasion brought against him.
The prosecutor, Dr Jide Martins had on June 6, 2017, filed the charge
and when the case came up for hearing on October 5, 2017, the defendant
did not appear in court.
The prosecution had told the court that the defendant had failed to
furnish the Lagos State Internal Revenue Board with a return of Income
for tax purposes.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 56 (a) and (b) of the
Lagos State Revenue Administration Law No.8, 2006 and Section 94 (I) of
the Personal Income Tax Act Cap P8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
2004.
