The trial of former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has been adjourned to April 15 2019 even though he claimed he was never contacted over his alleged failure to pay income tax before a Lagos court issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Many local and international media celebrated the order by a Lagos High Court in Igbosere for Okocha’s arrest earlier last week.
He was taken to court by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice on a three-count charge bordering on failure to furnish return of income.
But Okocha spoke in a telephone chat with a newspaper said that he was never contacted by anybody regarding income taxes. “I only read about it on the pages of newspapers.
No one contacted me. As a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I know very well that nobody is above the law. But honestly speaking, I was never contacted by anybody on issues before the court order.”
The former Bolton of England midfielder, and member of Super Eagles squad to Tunisia ’94 and Atlanta ’96 Olympics, however hinted that the issue had been settled. “It has been settled, but I won’t be able to give you details,” he stated.
The prosecutor, Dr. Jide Martins, stated that he filed the charge on June 6, 2017, adding that the case came up for the first time on October 5, 2017 but that Okocha did not appear in court.
Justice Adedayo Akintoye consequently adjourned the case until April 15 for the execution of the bench warrant and further hearing.