Abuja High Court to Hear Suit Seeking Sack of Nigeria Revenue Service Directors Over Alleged Illegal Appointments
Court to decide fate of revenue service mgt board appointment as NGO announces filling of action
An Abuja High Court is set to hear a suit challenging the appointment of directors of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), following allegations that the appointments were carried out in violation of due process and extant laws.
The suit, filed by a civil society organisation,
Incorporated Trustees patriotic youth organizations of Nigeria (plaintiff), seeks the nullification of the appointments and the dissolution of the current management board of the Revenue Service, which the group insists is unconstitutional
According to the Plaintiff, the appointments failed to comply with constitutional provisions, guiding transparency, merit, and procedural approval, thereby undermining the integrity of the agency and public confidence in its operations.
Joined as Defendants in the suit are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Attorney General of the Federation, ministry of justice and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).
In the suit, the plaintiff is asking the court to determine whether, by virtue of Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), all Acts of the National Assembly are binding on all persons and authorities, including the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and whether any authority can selectively choose which provisions of the Constitution or Acts of the National Assembly to obey.
The court is also being urged to determine whether the mandatory provisions of Section 17(1) of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025, were complied with in the appointment of Executive Directors of the Service.
Specifically, the plaintiff is questioning whether the President is legally empowered to appoint persons as Executive Directors of the Nigeria Revenue Service without strict compliance with the qualifications and procedures stipulated by law.
According to the suit, the plaintiff contends that the appointments of the 4th to 9th Defendants as Executive Directors of the Nigeria Revenue Service were carried out in violation of Section 17(1) of the Act, as the appointees are allegedly not qualified under the law.
The plaintiff argues that such appointments amount to a gross violation of both the Constitution and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.
The plaintiff is therefore asking the court to declare that:All Acts of the National Assembly are binding on all persons and authorities, including the President, who cannot pick and choose which laws to obey.
The President is not entitled to appoint any person as an Executive Director of the Nigeria Revenue Service without due regard to the mandatory provisions of the law.
The appointments of the 4th to 9th Defendants as Executive Directors are illegal, unconstitutional, unlawful, null, void, and of no effect whatsoever, having been made in breach of Section 17(1) of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.
Further seeks an order setting aside, nullifying, reversing and cancelling the purported appointment of 4th – 9th Defendants (Muhammad A. Lawal; Amina Ado Kurawa; Shettima Tamadi; Obinna Ihedioha; Iniabasi Akpan and Bolaji Akintola) as Executive Directors of the 3rd Defendant (Nigeria Revenue Service) for being, illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
An order directing and mandating the 1st Defendant to withdraw the appointment of the 4th – 9th Defendants’ existence and funding as Executive Directors of the 3rd Defendant as unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.