An Abuja court has begun hearing a suit challenging the appointments of six Executive Directors of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), with the claimant asking the court to dissolve the agency’s current management board.
Gatekeepers News reports that the suit, marked CV/462/26, was filed by a civil society organisation, the Incorporated Trustees of Patriotic Youth Organisations of Nigeria, which described the appointments as unconstitutional and a violation of statutory procedures.
According to the claimant’s counsel, Peter O. Abang, the appointments failed to comply with constitutional provisions and statutory requirements governing transparency, merit and due process, “thereby undermining the integrity of the agency and public confidence in its operations.”
The defendants in the suit are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Revenue Service.
The group 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, and whether any authority can lawfully choose which provisions of the Constitution or Acts of the National Assembly to obey.
The claimant is also urging the court to decide whether the mandatory provisions of Section 17(1) of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025, were complied with in the appointment of the Executive Directors.
Specifically, the group is questioning whether the President is legally empowered to appoint persons as Executive Directors of the NRS without strict adherence to the qualifications and procedures stipulated by law.
In the suit, the organisation contends that the appointments of the 4th to 9th defendants were made in breach of Section 17(1) of the Act, alleging that the appointees do not meet the statutory requirements.
It argues that the appointments amount to “a gross violation of both the Constitution and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.”
Consequently, the claimant is seeking a declaration that all Acts of the National Assembly are binding on all persons and authorities, including the President, who cannot selectively comply with the law. It is also asking the court to declare that the President lacks the power to appoint Executive Directors of the NRS without full compliance with the mandatory provisions of the Act.
The group further wants the court to declare that the appointments of the affected officials are illegal, unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.
It is also seeking an order to set aside, nullify and cancel the appointments of:
- Muhammad A. Lawal
- Amina Ado Kurawa
- Shettima Tamadi
- Obinna Ihedioha
- Iniabasi Akpan
- Bolaji Akintola
In addition, the claimant is asking the court to direct the President to withdraw the appointments and funding of the affected directors, as well as issue a mandatory injunction compelling strict compliance with Section 17(1) of the Act in all future appointments.
It is also seeking an order restraining the affected directors, either by themselves or through agents, from signing documents, issuing notices, supervising processes, performing official duties or parading themselves as Executive Directors of the Nigeria Revenue Service pending the determination of the suit.
