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NBA, Atiku Demand Suspension of Tax Reform Acts Over Alleged Illegal Alterations
NBA, Atiku Demand Suspension of Tax Reform Acts Over Alleged Illegal Alterations
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have raised serious concerns over alleged post-legislative alterations to the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts, calling for the immediate suspension of their implementation pending a full investigation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), warned that the controversy surrounding the laws poses a grave threat to the integrity, transparency and credibility of Nigeriaās legislative process, stressing that the matter strikes at the core of constitutional governance.
Osigwe called for a comprehensive, open and transparent investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence. He insisted that until the issues are fully examined and resolved, implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be suspended immediately.
The NBA further cautioned that the legal and policy uncertainty generated by the controversy could destabilise the business environment, weaken investor confidence, and create unpredictability for individuals and organisations expected to comply with the laws.
Similarly, Atiku Abubakar described the alleged alterations as a āgrave assault on legislative supremacy,ā accusing the Bola Tinubu-led executive of unlawfully inserting coercive enforcement provisions, imposing harsher financial obligations on citizens, and removing key accountability mechanisms without National Assembly approval.
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The controversy followed claims by a Sokoto lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki, that the version of the tax laws gazetted by the Federal Government differed from the final copy passed by lawmakers and transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. In response, the House of Representatives last week constituted a seven-member committee to probe the allegations.
As the laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, Atiku joined growing calls for the executive to halt their implementation while the legislature completes its investigation.
Both Atiku and the NBA urged the National Assembly to correct any unlawful changes and hold those responsible accountable. Atiku further called on the judiciary to strike out unconstitutional provisions, encouraged civil society organisations and Nigerians to resist what he described as an erosion of democratic values, and asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute those allegedly involved.
Atiku alleged that the purported amendments granted arrest powers to tax authorities, allowed property seizure and garnishment without court orders, and enabled enforcement sales without judicial oversight, alongside increased financial burdens such as a mandatory 20 per cent security deposit before appealing tax assessments and the imposition of compound interest on tax debts.
He warned that the changes would make it harder for ordinary Nigerians to challenge unfair tax assessments, raise compliance costs for businesses, and weaken legislative oversight by removing reporting and supervisory mechanisms.
Atiku cautioned that allowing such alterations to stand would undermine the principle that no law can take effect without National Assembly approval, warning that failure to uphold this safeguard risks pushing the country toward authoritarian governance.
NBA, Atiku Demand Suspension of Tax Reform Acts Over Alleged Illegal Alterations
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Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead
Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead
Suspected gunmen have launched a deadly attack on Gebbe community in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, leaving an undisclosed number of people feared dead and several others injured.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants struck suddenly, firing sporadic gunshots that threw the community into panic, forcing residents to flee to neighbouring villages and nearby bushes for safety.
Local sources disclosed that the exact number of casualties could not be immediately ascertained due to the scale of the attack and the displacement of residents. The incident has reportedly left the community, which has not experienced such violence in years, in a state of shock and trauma.
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Confirming the incident, the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said police operatives have been deployed to the area to assess the situation.
āThe police are currently on ground to determine the number of casualties and injured persons. An official statement will be issued as soon as investigations are concluded,ā he said.
Some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that security agencies have mobilised to restore calm in the area.
Meanwhile, community members have appealed to the Kebbi State Government and security agencies to provide urgent intervention, describing the attack as unprecedented in the history of Gebbe community.
Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead
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Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina YouthsāPolice Clash
Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina YouthsāPolice Clash
No fewer than three persons were killed and several others injured following violent clashes between youths and security operatives in Katsina metropolis, Katsina State.
The unrest reportedly began late on Friday, December 27, around 10:00 p.m., when police operatives raided suspected criminal hideouts in Sabuwar Unguwa Quarters in an attempt to arrest a suspected drug dealer identified as Uzairu, popularly known as Kuda.
According to the Katsina State Police Command, the suspect resisted arrest and raised an alarm that attracted suspected gang members, who attacked the officers in a bid to free him. During the ensuing struggle, a firearm was discharged, hitting Uzairu. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.
Tension escalated the following day during Uzairuās funeral procession, as youths allegedly clashed again with security personnel at the graveyard. Two persons were reportedly hit by stray bullets during the confrontation.
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Police authorities confirmed that one of the victims died on arrival at the hospital, while the second is currently receiving treatment.
Amid the violence, the youths allegedly set ablaze a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) outpost and attempted to burn a nearby police outpost before security reinforcements were deployed to the area.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Katsina State Command, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said the clashes resulted in the death of two civilians, while another injured victim is responding to treatment.
DSP Aliyu explained that during the initial raid, the police team was attacked, an operational vehicle was damaged, and several officers sustained injuries. He added that one policeman was stabbed with a knife while suspects attempted to disarm him.
āDuring the struggle to secure the rifle, a shot was released, hitting and injuring the suspect, who later died in the hospital,ā he said.
He further disclosed that on December 28, suspected miscreants hijacked the funeral procession, attacked security personnel, burned the NSCDC outpost, inflicted a deep machete wound on a policeman, and damaged a police patrol vehicle.
The police spokesperson said calm has been restored following the deployment of additional police and NSCDC personnel to the area.
DSP Aliyu added that the Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.
Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina YouthsāPolice Clash
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Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos
Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos
At least two persons were killed and 16 others injured following a fuel tanker crash in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Sunday evening.
The accident occurred near the Polo Field Club Roundabout, close to St. Louis College, when a laden fuel tanker reportedly lost its brakes shortly after the Plateau State Specialist Hospital Roundabout and rammed into several vehicles.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Peter Longsan, said emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene to prevent further casualties.
According to Longsan, 18 persons were involved in the crash. Two male adults died on the spot, while 16 injured victims were rushed to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) for medical treatment. The corpses of the deceased were deposited at BUTH.
He explained that the accident was reported to the FRSC at about 6:49pm on December 28, 2025, prompting immediate rescue operations by the FRSC in collaboration with other security and emergency agencies.
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To avert a possible fire outbreak, the area was cordoned off and traffic diverted, while security agencies prevented looting. Fortunately, Longsan said there was no spillage of petroleum products, significantly reducing the risk of explosion.
Agencies involved in the operation included the FRSC, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Federal Fire Service, NSCDC, Operation Rainbow, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Vehicle Inspection Officers, and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria.
Following the rescue operation, the petroleum product was safely transloaded, damaged vehicles were removed, and the road was fully cleared, restoring traffic flow by Monday morning.
Commending the coordinated response, FRSC Plateau Sector Commander, Olajide E. Mogaji, praised stakeholders and community members for their cooperation and reiterated that road safety is a shared responsibility.
He urged motorists to drive cautiously, especially during the festive season, and advised the public to report emergencies using the FRSC emergency number 122.
Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos
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