A fresh legal challenge has emerged for former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye, as an Abuja magistrate court has summoned him to answer allegations of significant tax underpayment and under-declaration. The summons, dated August 21, 2025, compels Melaye to appear before the court in Wuse Zone II on September 5.
The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) alleges that Melaye failed to pay his personal income tax for 2023 and 2024, with liabilities estimated at over N500 million. The agency claims that despite declaring substantial earnings—over N6.5 million in 2022 alone—Melaye’s tax payments in recent years were far below expectations, with figures such as N85,000.08 in 2019 and N1,000,000 in 2022.
After issuing an administrative assessment in May 2025 and receiving no response, the FCT-IRS proceeded with a Best of Judgment Assessment, pegging Melaye’s tax dues at N234,896,000 for 2023 and N274,712,000 for 2024. Multiple attempts to serve him personally were unsuccessful, prompting officials to post notices at his Maitama residence.
The agency has cited breaches of the Personal Income Tax Act and warned that unless Melaye raises a valid objection or settles the liabilities, the assessment will become final and enforceable. Further investigations into his filings for previous years are ongoing, with additional notices expected.
Melaye, a former Senate committee chair and recent PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kogi State, now faces mounting legal and financial scrutiny as the case unfolds.
