Court orders for the arrest of Super Eagles Legend Jay Jay Okocha

A Lagos court has ordered football legend Jay-Jay Okocha’s arrest, over failure to appear in court to answer his case of alleged tax evasion.

The Lagos High Court, sitting at Igbosere, ordered for Jay-Jay Okocha’s arrest after his case was brought to the court by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in a three-count charge bordering on failure to furnish a return of income. The state filed the charges through its prosecutor, Jide Martins, in June 2017 and the suit began four months later.

However, it was gathered that after the defendant did not appear in court and after several adjournments, the prosecutor urged the court to issue a bench warrant. Justice Adedayo Akintoye on January 29, 2019, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the ex supper eagles star and adjourned until February 19.

According to the prosecutor, Mr Okocha had failed to furnish his income returns for tax purposes to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service.

He said that the defendant had failed to pay his income taxes, and according to him 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.