Court Orders Accelerated Hearing of Suit Challenging 2025 Tax Acts, Declines Injunction

Court Orders Accelerated Hearing of Suit Challenging 2025 Tax Acts, Declines Injunction

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Monday ordered an accelerated hearing of a suit challenging the 2025 tax acts, but declined to grant an interim injunction restraining their implementation.

The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of African Initiative for Abuse Public Trustees against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other key government officials, citing alleged discrepancies in the newly enacted tax laws and their proposed implementation date of January 1, 2026.

The respondents in the suit include the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the National Assembly.

In a motion ex parte, the plaintiff sought an interim injunction to restrain the Federal Government from implementing the tax laws pending the determination of the substantive suit. The applicant also requested an abridgment of time for the defendants to file their responses, approval for substituted service, and an order for accelerated hearing.

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Ruling on the application, Justice Bello Kawu, sitting as a vacation judge, granted the request for accelerated hearing and approved substituted service on the defendants.

The court ordered that the first and second defendants be served through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, while the fourth, fifth and sixth defendants are to be served via the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

However, the court declined to grant the interim injunction sought by the plaintiff, refusing to restrain the Federal Government and its agencies from proceeding with the implementation of the 2025 tax laws at this stage.

Justice Kawu directed that all defendants be put on notice and adjourned the matter to Wednesday, December 31, for the hearing of the motion on notice.

Court Orders Accelerated Hearing of Suit Challenging 2025 Tax Acts, Declines Injunction