A Lagos State High Court  sitting in Igbosere has ordered the arrest of former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha over tax evasion charges.

The Judge, Adedayo Akintoye issued the warrant for the arrest of the former Paris St. Germain and Bolton Wanderers playmaker on January 29 and thereafter adjourned until February 19.

However, by February 19, the prosecution had not effected the arrest. This forced the judge to again, adjourn till April 15 and ordered that the warrant be executed before the adjourned date.

Okocha, who has repeatedly failed to appear before the court is facing a three-count charge instituted by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice bordering on his 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. However after several adjournments without Okocha’s appearance, Mr. Martins prayed the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

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