A Lagos High Court has renewed a warrant for the arrest of the former Super Eagles captain, Augustine Jay Jay Okocha, for refusal to appear in court over a case of tax evasion.
The presiding Judge, Justice Adedayo Akintoye extended the arrest warrant, originally made last January 29, following an application by the Lagos State Government.
Okocha, who was not in court, was also not represented by a lawyer.
Prosecution counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule told the court that Okocha had yet to settle out of court, the 2017 income tax evasion charge.
At the start of proceedings on Monday, Sule said Okocha had made contact with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service. “The defendant (Okocha) is trying to settle, but he is yet to make any payment. In the circumstances, we will be asking for a further date.”
Granting his application, Justice Akintoye ruled that “Bench Warrant issued to continue to subsist against the defendant. Case adjourned till May 28, 2019 for further directions.”
The judge first made the order on January 29, following an application by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
The ministry told the court that Okocha had also failed to appear in court since 2017 when the case was filed against him.