PRESS RELEASE
Nigerian Digital Media and Public Awareness Initiative (NDMPI) F.CT
Former Senator Dino Melaye Summoned to Court Over Alleged Multi-Year Tax Evasion
The Nigerian Digital Media and Public Awareness Initiative (NDMPI) reports that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Magistrate Court has issued a criminal summons against former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, over alleged non-payment and underpayment of personal income taxes across several years.
The summons, dated August 21, 2025, requires Melaye to appear before the Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone II, Abuja, on September 5, 2025, to answer charges concerning his alleged failure to pay mandatory taxes for 2023 and 2024, in addition to under-declared and underpaid taxes in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
According to records obtained from the FCT Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Melaye declared significant annual incomes but paid disproportionately low taxes:
2019: Paid N85,000.08
2020: Paid N100,000.08
2021: Paid N120,000.00
2022: Paid N1,000,000.00, despite declaring income of over N6.5 million
An administrative tax assessment for 2023 and 2024 was issued on May 23, 2025. After Melaye allegedly failed to respond within 30 days, a Best of Judgment Assessment was raised on June 23, 2025.
Attempts to serve the notice personally or via his representatives were unsuccessful. Consequently, the IRS pasted the notice at his Maitama residence on July 9, 2025.
The IRS assessed Melaye’s total outstanding liabilities as follows:
N234,896,000.00 for 2023
N274,712,000.00 for 2024
The official notice stated:
“Despite reminders and ample time provided, your non-compliance with Section 41 of the Personal Income Tax Act constitutes a breach of your obligations. Consequently, the Service has raised a Best of Judgment Assessment in respect of your tax liabilities for 2023 and 2024.”
Further reviews are expected to address income under-declaration and underpayment for 2020–2022.
Dino Melaye, a high-profile politician and former lawmaker in both the Senate and House of Representatives, previously chaired key Senate committees including Aviation and FCT. He also contested as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the November 11, 2023 Kogi State governorship election.
The matter is now before the FCT Magistrate Court, with the first hearing scheduled for September 5, 2025.
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