Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Nigerian Bar Association have raised grave concerns over alleged unconstitutional alterations to Nigeria’s recently enacted Tax Reform Acts, with Atiku describing the changes as “an act of treason against the Nigerian people.”
In a strong statement, Atiku accused the executive branch of undermining legislative supremacy and stripping citizens of fundamental due process protections embedded in the original law passed by the National Assembly.
He highlighted provisions that grant tax authorities coercive powers, including arrest without warrant, property seizure without court orders, and enforcement sales conducted without judicial oversight.
“These provisions transform tax collectors into quasi-law enforcement agencies, stripping Nigerians of due process protections that the National Assembly deliberately included,” Atiku stated.
The Nigerian Bar Association, led by its President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, echoed these concerns, stating that the controversy undermines public confidence in the legislative process and creates legal uncertainty that threatens economic stability.
“The integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process are at stake,” Osigwe said. “Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be suspended.”
Both Atiku and the NBA have called for an immediate suspension of the law’s implementation, pending a thorough investigation, and urged the National Assembly to rectify the alleged illegal alterations.
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Disclaimer:
This report is based on public statements by Atiku Abubakar and the Nigerian Bar Association. The allegations are subject to official investigation and response. CDA News Nigeria is an independent digital news platform.
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