The Lagos State government has dragged popular Interior designer, Ehizogie Ogbebor before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square for allegedly failing to file her tax returns.
Ogbebor, who is also a social media celebrity, is facing a 12-count charge before Justice Yetunde Adesanya.
The state accused her of allegedly refusing to pay personal income tax to the state internal revenue service within the time stipulated by law since 2014 till date.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendant being a taxable personality in Nigeria failed to pay her tax, which contravened Sections 41 and 94 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act, Cap. P8, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
It also stated that the offences contravened Sections 56(a) (b) of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law, No.8, 2006.
When the matter came up on Monday, the state prosecution counsel, Ade Alli, told Justice Adesanya that the case was a matter of tax and he had a motion for substituted service.
While moving the motion of notice dated May 10, 2023, Alli told the court that the prosecution was seeking an order from the court to effect substituted service on the defendant.
He said, “we seek the leave of this court for substituted service to paste the notice on the last known address of the defendant at plot 59, Fola Osibo Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.”
After listening to the lawyer, Justice Adesanya granted the prayer as prayed and added that the substituted service should be served on the defendant.
The judge then adjourned the case to October 26 for trial.