A Magistrate Court in Abuja has summoned former senator Dino Melaye to answer allegations of tax evasion amounting to over ₦509 million for 2023 and 2024, alongside under-declarations in previous years.
A Magistrate Court in Abuja has ordered former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, to appear before it over alleged failure to pay his Personal Income Tax for 2023 and 2024, as well as under-declarations for previous years.
The criminal summons, dated August 21, 2025, requires Melaye to appear before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone II, Abuja, on September 5, 2025, according to Daily Post.
The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) accused the former lawmaker of gross underpayment of tax liabilities, despite publicly declaring higher incomes. According to the IRS, Melaye paid only ₦85,000.08 in 2019, ₦100,000.08 in 2020, ₦120,000 in 2021, and ₦1 million in 2022, while declaring over ₦6.5 million as income in 2022 alone.
An administrative assessment for 2023 and 2024 was issued to him on May 23, 2025, but after failing to respond within 30 days, the IRS raised a Best of Judgment Assessment on June 23. His tax liabilities were pegged at ₦234,896,000 for 2023 and ₦274,712,000 for 2024.
Efforts to serve him directly failed, prompting officials to paste the notice at his Maitama residence on July 9, 2025. The notice read:
“Despite reminders and ample time provided, your non-compliance with Section 41 of the Act constitutes a breach of your obligations. Consequently, the FCT-IRS has, in accordance with Section 54(3) of the Personal Income Tax Act, proceeded to raise a Best of Judgment Assessment in respect of your tax liabilities for the years under review. Your tax liability has been assessed in the sum of ₦234,896,000.00 and ₦274,712,000.00 for the period of 2023 and 2024 respectively.”
The IRS added that fresh notices would be issued for earlier years after completing its review.
Melaye, a former Senate Committee chairman and 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi, has faced several controversies in his political career.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SAHARA REPORTERS