By RismadarVoice Media
January 1, 2026
The Federal Capitalism Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, has rejected a suit seeking to halt the implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws, clearing the way for their enforcement from January 1, 2026.
Justice Bello Kawu struck out an ex parte application filed by the African Initiative for Abuse of Public Trustees, ruling that it lacked merit, failed to establish grounds for interim relief.
The group had sued the Federal Government, President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, leaders of the National Assembly and others, alleging discrepancies in four tax laws enacted in 2025.
In his ruling, the judge held that duly enacted laws cannot be stopped through an ex parte application and that fiscal, economic reforms fall within the government’s constitutional powers.
He ruled that there was no legal impediment to the commencement of the new tax regime.
The court fixed January 9 for hearing of the substantive suit with all parties present.
The laws affected include the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, all signed into law in 2025.
