Monalisa Chinda’s ‘tax evasion’ trial begins October 10

An Igbosere high court in Lagos has fixed October 10, for the trial of Monalisa Chinda-Coker, Nollywood actress, over alleged tax evasion

Although the actress cum producer was scheduled to resume her trial on July 5, the judge adjourned the proceeding till Monday due to the eid-el-fitr holiday.

Adedayo Akintoye, the court justice, had in April renewed the order for the arrest of Chinda having failed to honour its initial arrest warrant.

Chinda, who owns Monalisa Code Productions, a film production company, is facing a two-count charge for failure to file annual tax returns for a period of six years.

“Failure to furnish and file annual tax returns for the purpose of personal income taxation with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) contrary to Section 94(1) of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 (as amended),” the charges read in part.

” …Monalisa Code Productions, being a taxable person in Nigeria and carrying on business…failed to furnish and file tax returns on your personal income for the years 2011 to 2016.”

“Failure to pay income tax contrary to Section 56 of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law of 2006.”

The actress had earlier issued a statement through Emeka Odikpo and associates, her lawyer, debunking the allegations levelled against her.

In the statement, Chinda noted that the profit-oriented enterprises are situated in Port-Harcourt and not Lagos, hence her tax obligations are primarily remitted to the Rivers state government.

Chinda, who also heads Arise Monalisa Foundation at Lekki, a non-profit organisation, said she remitted N100,000 to the Lagos state inland revenue service following a visit by its officials in 2016.