A prominent civil society group, the Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD), has taken a bold legal step by dragging the Federal Government before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice. The lawsuit centers on a series of controversial allegations suggesting that Nigeria’s newly gazetted tax laws were unlawfully altered after they had already been passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President.
The legal action, filed under suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/10/26, was confirmed in a statement by the group’s lead counsel, Elvis Ejeta Esq. The move follows an earlier formal request sent to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly, calling for an independent investigation into the matter. The group decided to escalate the issue to the regional court after an interim review by lawmakers reportedly hinted that parts of the legislation in the official gazette did not match the version originally approved.
NEFGAD is now asking the ECOWAS Court to intervene and determine how these discrepancies occurred. They are seeking a declaration that the versions currently published in the official gazette are unauthorized and violate Nigeria’s commitments under the African Charter and ECOWAS protocols. Specifically, the organization is pushing for the Tax Administration Act 2025 and other related laws to be either set aside or corrected so that only the text originally voted on by lawmakers remains in effect.
Beyond just correcting the documents, the group wants the court to stop the government from enforcing any of the disputed provisions. The lawsuit also demands the publication of Certified True Copies of the four tax Acts to ensure the public knows exactly what the authentic law says. Furthermore, NEFGAD is seeking compensation and refunds for any Nigerians or businesses that may have suffered financial losses or paid penalties under these questionable rules.
In its statement, the organization emphasized that this is far more than a simple clerical error or a procedural hitch. They argued that if a law can be changed secretly after the President has already signed it, the entire democratic process and the principle of separation of powers are at risk. Such actions, the group noted, do not only hurt citizens but also shake the confidence of investors who rely on the stability and sanctity of a nation’s laws.
By taking this matter to the regional stage, NEFGAD has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and the protection of democratic institutions. The group is now calling on the judiciary, the legislature, and other civil society partners to stand firm in defending the integrity of the lawmaking process to ensure that the will of the people, expressed through their representatives, is never undermined.
