The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved ruling on an application filed by Lagos State Government seeking to be joined as a respondent in the appeal filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS.
FIRS instituted an appeal against August 9, 2021 judgment by Justice Steven Pam of the Federal High Court in Port-Harcourt, voiding the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act and holding the states could collect VAT.
A three-man panel, led by Justice Haruna Simon Tsanami, after listening to arguments by lawyers to parties, said they would be informed when the ruling is ready.
In arguing Lagos’ application, the state’s Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) said his client was a necessary party as it would be affected by the outcome of the case.
Also Read: https://topcourtnewsng.com/court-declines-application-to-forestall-lagos-lg-council-polls/
Supporting the motion, Lawyer to Rivers State, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) agreed with Onigbajo and urged the court to join Lagos.
Meanwhile lawyers to FIRS and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mahmud Magaji (SAN) and Tijani Gazali (SAN) argued otherwise and prayed the court not to join Lagos.
