TAX EVASION: COURT AFTER JAY-JAY OKOCHA

For his failure to pay his income taxes, a Lagos High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a former Super Eagles international, Austin Okocha, popularly known as Jay Jay Okocha.

The prosecutor, Dr Jide Martins, had on June 6, 2017, filed the charge, adding that the case came up for the first time on Oct. 5, 2017, but the defendant did not appear in court.

The prosecutor had told the court that the defendant had failed to furnish the Lagos State Internal Revenue Services, 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 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act Cap P8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Justice Adedayo Akintoye, on Jan. 29 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the football star and adjourned until Feb. 19.

However, the prosecution failed to effect the arrest on that date, leading the court to order that the warrant should be executed on the next adjourned date.