The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital has granted permission for Lagos State to join as respondent in the legal issue between the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, on the collection of Value Added Tax, VAT.
The Court held that Lagos State has established beyond doubt that it has rights and interest to protect in the issue of revenue collection in the country.
In a ruling, the court ordered that all processes filed in respect of the suit be served on Lagos State as a third respondent to enable the state respond as required by law to the appeal filed by FIRS.
Justice Haruna Simon Tsamani who delivered the lead ruling fixed October 7 for the continuation of hearing of the case.
He also ordered that the matter be moved from Abuja to Port Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal.
The appeal by the FIRS is against the 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 that states could collect VAT.
Confidence Okwuchi
