Court orders Jay Jay Okocha’s arrest over alleged tax evasion

A Lagos State High Court in Igbosere has ordered the arrest of former Super Eagles captain, Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha, to face charges of tax evasion.

The presiding judge, Adedayo Akintoye, issued the bench warrant for his arrest on January 29 and thereafter adjourned until February 19.

The prosecution failed to effect the arrest during sitting on February 19 prompting the judge to readjourn again till April 15. He ordered that the warrant be executed by then.

Okocha has repeatedly failed to appear before the court to give reasons why he allegedly failed to pay his income taxes.

The Lagos State Ministry of Justice had filed a three-count charge on the football star on failure to furnish his income returns and nonpayment of tax.

The charges were filed in 2017 and hearing began four months later. However, Okocha has not appeared in court since then.

State prosecutor, Jide Martins, said Okocha failed to furnish his income returns for tax purposes to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service.

He also said the defendant had failed to pay his income taxes.

He said the alleged 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.