Former senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has been charged before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Magistrate Court over alleged tax evasion running into over N509 million.
A criminal summons dated August 21, directed Melaye to appear before the Wuse Zone II Magistrate Court, Abuja, on September 5.
According to the FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), the former lawmaker underpaid his personal income tax for several years despite declaring far higher incomes.
The service stated that Melaye paid N85,000.08 in 2019, N100,000.08 in 2020, N120,000 in 2021 and N1 million in 2022. In the same period, he declared much higher earnings including N6.5 million in 2022.
The revenue agency explained that an administrative assessment for 2023 and 2024 was issued on May 23, 2025, but Melaye failed to respond within 30 days. A Best of Judgment Assessment was then issued on June 23.
Efforts to serve the notice on him personally or through his representative failed, leading to the pasting of the notice on his Maitama residence gate on July 9.
The liabilities for the two years were put at N234.8 million for 2023 and N274.7 million for 2024, bringing the total to about N509.6 million.
“The notice informed him of his right to file an objection within 30 days with documents in support of his case. Failure to do so will make the assessment final and binding,” FCT-IRS stated.
It added that once the assessment becomes final, recovery proceedings may be initiated against Melaye without further notice.
Melaye is being prosecuted under Section 41 of the Personal Income Tax Act, which makes it mandatory for individuals to file annual returns. The Best Judgment Assessment was issued in line with Section 54(3) of the Act.
The former lawmaker, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the November 2023 Kogi governorship election, has not reacted publicly to the case.
Melaye represented Kogi West in the Senate from 2015 to 2019 and previously served in the House of Representatives. He also chaired the Senate Committee on the FCT during his time in the upper chamber.
