Court issues bench warrant for arrest of actress Monalisa Chinda over alleged tax evasion

A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has reportedly issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Nollywood actress Monalisa Chinda Coker over charges of tax evasion dating back to 6 years.

According to reports, the order was made on January 21 by Justice Adedayo Akintoye, after an application by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to the court alleging that Coker had failed to appear in court severally to answer questions on why she has allegedly failed to pay her income taxes.

This comes after she was slapped with a two-count charge of failure to file annual tax returns and failure to pay income tax for the last 6 years in respect of her company, Monalisa Code Productions, which carries out its business from Lekki in Lagos state.

Count one of the charge marked LD/5712c/2017, reads in part:

“Failure to furnish and file annual tax returns for the purpose of personal income taxation with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) contrary to Section 94(1) of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 (as amended).”

The particulars of the count stated that Coker “of Monalisa Code Productions, being a taxable person in Nigeria and carrying on business at… Lekki… failed to furnish and file tax returns on your personal income for the years 2011 to 2016.”

Count two reads: “Failure to pay income tax contrary to Section 56 of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law of 2006.”

Prosecution counsel says the actress had not appeared in court since 2017 when the charge was filed against her.

While making an application for the arrest warrant Y. A. Pitan told the court, “The defendant has been served with hearing notice. The proof of service is in the court’s file.”

Justice Akintoye granted the application and further adjourned proceedings till February 2. But on February 2, the court heard that the bench warrant had yet to be effected.

It ordered that the warrant should continue and adjourned till April 1.

source jivenaija.com