By Omoniyi David
An Abuja High Court sitting as a vacation court on Monday commenced hearing in a suit seeking to halt the implementation of newly enacted tax laws scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.
The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of African Initiative for Abuse Public Trustees against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Assembly and others, over alleged discrepancies in the tax reform Acts recently passed by the legislature and assented to by the President.
The plaintiff, in a motion ex parte, asked the court to restrain the Federal Government, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and relevant agencies from implementing or enforcing provisions of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment), Act 2025 and the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment), Act 2025, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Other reliefs sought include accelerated hearing of the case, abridgment of time for the defendants to file counter affidavits, and leave to serve court processes on the defendants through substituted means.
The court adjourned the matter for further proceedings.
