Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, has been dragged to court by two civil society organisations, Pro Tax Pro Nigeria Initiative and Centre for Prevention of Corruption and Human Rights Abuse Initiative over alleged double taxation of outdoor advertising.

Also joined in the suit, as co-defendants, are Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS) and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

Lead council to Protax, Mr Opara Orji, who addressed newsmen in Abuja, claimed that the collection of tax from businesses and individuals by DOAS was an illegal act, which amounted to duplication of functions, which AMAC also performs.

Orji argued that the function of collection of taxes was supposed to be handled by AMAC, the original body, which was saddled with such responsibility by the law.

He cited Section 2(1) of the Taxes and Levies Act to justify their arguments, which says ‘no person other than the appropriate tax authority shall assess or collect on behalf of the government any tax or levy listed in the act. The appropriate tax authorities are the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Local Government Revenue Committee.’

He said: “But the court just intimated us that the judgement of the court is not ready, that the date of the judgement shall be communicated to us. That is what happened in court this morning.”

Haruna Sadiq, who represented the minister, faulted the allegations, saying: “The course of the matter is that some group of people decided to wake up and try to sabotage the efforts of government.

“You know, when you want to mix up the FCT administration or over seeing the affairs the FCT and put it on equal line with that of the state, it is a grievous mistake that you are making.”

Follow Our WhatsApp Channel _______________________________________________________________________

“Order Your Copy Now” — Basil Momodu, Esq. Unveils Second Edition Of His Book, "Civil Procedure In Nigeria"

According to the learned author, Basil Momodu Esq. "Law review is a continuum. We will continue to track changes in the law to enrich future editions." Recommended Booksellers: Lagos: 08033855230, Abuja: 08035991379, and others. _______________________________________________________________________

[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials

“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.

Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation

______________________________________________________________________ “Bridging Theory And Courtroom Practice” — Hagler Sunny Okorie, Nathaniel Ngozi Ikeocha Unveil ‘Functional’ Tort Law Book For Nigerian Legal System The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209. ______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

_______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook As an added bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE ebook titled: “AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion: A Research Guide.” Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626