Breaking: Court Takes Action Against Dino Melaye over Alleged N509.6m Tax Evasion
- In a significant turn of events, former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, was on Wednesday, August 27, dragged to court over alleged N509.6 million tax evasion
- The Magistrate Court in FCT, Abuja, summoned Melaye for failure to pay his mandatory Personal Income Tax for 2023 and 2024, as well as underpayment of taxes in 2020, 2021, and 2022, despite declaring much higher annual incomes
- The notice was pasted on Melaye's Maitama residence on July 9, 2025, after he allegedly evaded service
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
A former senator who represented Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, has been dragged to a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Magistrate Court over alleged evasion of more than N509.6 million in personal income tax liabilities.
Source: Facebook
Melaye to appear in court on September 5
According to court filings, Mr Melaye allegedly failed to pay his mandatory Personal Income Tax for 2023 and 2024, amounting to N234,896,000 and N274,712,000 respectively, as assessed by the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS). The total sums to N509,608,000.00.
As reported by Premium Times, the criminal summons, dated August 21, 2025, and issued by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Magistrate Court, requires Melaye to appear before the court in Wuse Zone II, Abuja, on September 5, 2025.
Why Melaye was summoned - FCT IRS explains
Reports making the rounds on Wednesday, August 27, said the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) accused the controversial politician of gross underpayment of his tax liabilities, despite publicly declaring much higher incomes during the same period.
The tax authority said it conducted an administrative assessment of Mr Melaye’s tax liabilities for 2023 and 2024, but after he failed to respond within 30 days, it issued a notice of best judgment assessment on June 23, 2025.
The notice, pasted on his Maitama residence on 9 July 2025, after he allegedly evaded service, warned that his non-compliance with Section 41 of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 constituted a breach of the law.
Source: Facebook
The FCT-IRS stated:
“Accordingly, your tax liability has been assessed in the sum of N234,896,000.00 and N274,712,000.00 for the period of 2023 and 2024 respectively. Please note that the Service has also identified income under-declaration and underpayment for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 years of assessment. Notices of additional liability will be issued upon conclusion of our review.”
Dino Melaye dumps PDP
Elsewhere, Legit.ng earlier reported that Senator Dino Melaye resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ending months of speculation about his political future.
The announcement was contained in a signed letter addressed to the PDP chairman of Ward 1, Aiyetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi state.
Read more about Melaye here:
- Nigerians react as Dino Melaye makes his first appearance in court
- Is this SDP logo? Dino Melaye's outfit fuels defection rumours amid PDP crisis
- Dino Melaye preaches in Abuja church
Dino Melaye regret backing APC to remove Jonathan
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Dino Melaye clarified his support for the ruling APC to oust former President Goodluck Jonathan.
In a trending interview, Melaye expressed regret and insisted it is a daily confession he makes, just like the Lord's prayer.
Melaye, who recently dumped the PDP for Atiku-led ADC, blamed Tinubu's government for the current economic situation and explained how the coalition will work against the APC in 2027.
Source: Legit.ng
