A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere on Monday issued another arrest warrant against former Super Eagles captain, Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha, to face charges of tax evasion.
The presiding judge, Adedayo Akintoye, had issued the first bench warrant for Okocha’s 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 adjourn 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.
When the case was called on Monday, Okocha was again absent, prompting the court to issue a fresh arrest warrant.
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.
