By Atoyebi Nike
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Monday granted an accelerated hearing in a suit challenging the implementation of the 2025 Tax Acts but declined to issue an interim order stopping their enforcement.
The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of African Initiative for Abuse Public Trustees against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and several key government officials over alleged discrepancies in the tax laws and their proposed commencement date of January 1, 2026.
Listed as respondents are the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the National Assembly.
In a motion filed ex parte, the plaintiff sought an interim injunction restraining the Federal Government from implementing the tax laws pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The plaintiff also requested an order abridging the time for the defendants to file counter-affidavits to five days, leave to serve court processes on the defendants through substituted means, and an order directing accelerated hearing of the case.
Ruling on the application, the vacation judge, Justice Bello Kawu, granted the request for an expedited hearing and approved substituted service on the defendants but refused to halt the implementation of the tax laws.
Justice Kawu ordered that service on the first and second defendants be effected through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, while service on the remaining defendants should be carried out through the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly at the Three Arms Zone.
However, the court declined to grant interim injunctive relief, directing instead that all defendants be formally put on notice to respond to the suit.
The judge adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to Wednesday, December 31.
