Tax evasion: Court renews Okocha’s arrest warrant

An Igbosere high court in Lagos has renewed a bench warrant for the arrest of Augustine Okocha, a former Super Eagles captain, over alleged tax evasion.

Adedayo Akintoye, the judge, extended the warrant which had earlier been issued on January 29, following an application made by Yusuf Sule, the state’s prosecutor.

Sule told the court that Okocha was yet to settle out of court, a 2017 alleged income tax evasion charge.

The prosecutor said Okocha had also failed to appear in court since October 5, 2017, when the case first came up.

Sule also said that Okocha had made contact with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).

“The defendant is trying to settle, but is yet to make any payment,” the prosecutor said.

“In the circumstances, we will be asking for a further date.”

However, Okocha was not in court and was not represented by any lawyer.

The judge granted the application and adjourned the case till May 28.

“Bench warrant is to continue against the defendant,” the judge ruled.

“Case is adjourned until May 28 for further directions.”

In 2017, the prosecutor had filed a three-count charge against Okocha, accusing him of failure to furnish return of income for tax purposes with the LIRS, and failure to pay income tax.