Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Justice Adedayo Akintoye of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere area of the state has ordered the arrest of former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha.
The judge gave security operatives the directive to apprehend the former Bolton Wanderers player over tax evasion charges.
It was reported that the former Nigerian playmaker had repeatedly failed to appear before the court to answer why he allegedly failed to pay his income taxes to government.
The warrant of arrest for Mr Okocha was issued by the judge on January 29, with the matter thereafter adjourned till 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.
