Group asks court to sack Nigeria Revenue Service directors

An Abuja High Court has begun hearing a suit challenging the appointment of executive directors at the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), with the plaintiffs alleging that the appointments violated due process and existing laws.

The suit, marked CV/462/26, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Patriotic Youth Organisations of Nigeria, a civil society organization.

The organization seeks the nullification of the appointments and the dissolution of the current NRS management board, which it claims is unconstitutional.

The claimant’s counsel, Peter O. Abang, argued that the appointments failed to meet constitutional provisions and statutory requirements for transparency, merit, and procedural approval, undermining the integrity of the agency and public confidence in its operations.

The defendants named in the suit include the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the NRS.

The suit seeks a determination on whether, under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), all acts of the National Assembly are binding on all authorities, including the President, and whether any authority can lawfully choose which provisions of the Constitution or National Assembly Acts to obey.

Additionally, the court is being asked to consider whether the mandatory provisions of Section 17(1) of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025, were followed in the appointment of the NRS Executive Directors.

The claimant specifically questions whether the President is legally empowered to appoint Executive Directors to the NRS without full adherence to the qualifications and procedures laid out by the law.

They contend that the appointments of the individuals identified as defendants (Muhammad A. Lawal, Amina Ado Kurawa, Shettima Tamadi, Obinna Ihedioha, Iniabasi Akpan, and Bolaji Akintola) breach Section 17(1) of the NRS Establishment Act, as the appointees allegedly do not meet the statutory requirements.