Former Super Eagles’ Captain, Augustine Okocha, accused by the Lagos State government of income tax evasion since 2017, has settled the matter with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
State prosecutor, Ms. Y. A. Pitan told an Igbosere High Court today that the LIRS informed her that the defendant visited its office and reconciled his accounts.
Pitan then prayed the court for an adjournment to enable her file a notice of discontinuance of the charge preferred against Okocha.
NAN reports that Justice Adedayo Akintoye, consequently, withdrew the warrant of arrest earlier issued on the defendant and adjourned further hearing until November 14, to enable prosecution file notice of discontinuance of the charge.
It would be recalled that the prosecutor had on May 28 informed the court that the defendant visited the office of LIRS to reconcile his accounts.
She said then that the defendant could not reach a common ground with the agency.
Earlier, the prosecutor had filed a three-count charge against Okocha on June 6, 2017, accusing him of failure to furnish returns of income for tax purposes with the LIRS, and failure to pay income tax.
“The offences contravene Section 56(a) and (b) of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law No. 8 of 2006 and Section 94 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act Cap P8 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 (As Amended),” said the prosecutor.
