Emmanuel Thomas l Thursday, May 23, 2019
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has slammed a criminal suit on Seun Anikulapo Kuti, one of the sons of the late Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Seun Anikulapo Kuti is one of the two sons of Fela who have been flying the flag of Afrobeat in Nigeria and across the world.
The matter came up for hearing today before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja. When the matter came up for hearing today, Seun Anikulapo Kuti was not available neither was he represented by a lawyer.
The prosecution however told the court that the state government tried to serve him but that he was often not available and that Seun Anikulapo Kuti was always on tour outside the shores of Nigeria and that he was served through a third party.
Justice Oshodi told the lawyer that if Seun Anikulapo Kuti is always traveling the prosecution should wait for him at the airport and serve him once he arrives from tour.
Lawyer to the state government was unwilling to let go of the charges neither where the court officials willing to give the charges when approached by the reporter.
We however gathered from reliable sources that the charges were related to tax evasion. The Afrobeat musician was said to have reneged on his tax obligation to the state government for years.
The matter has however been adjourned to September 19 when Seun Anikulapo Kuti will be hopefully arraigned.
When arraigned, Seun Anikulapo Kuti will be the first artiste to be arraigned for tax evasion. Attempt by the state government to arraign Nollywood star, Monalisa Chinda-Coker for tax evasion has failed serverally, forcing Justice Adedayo Akintoye to issue bench warrant for the arrest of the Nollywood star.
Monalisa Chinda-Coker is wanted for “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).”
If the state government succeeds, Monalisa will be produced in court June 5, 2019. These efforts by the state government is being seen as part of onslaught targeting Nollywood artistes and musicians in the quest to boost the revenue base of the state.
