Citizen advocacy group, Citizen Monitors, has called for a probe into allegations that the 2025 Tax Law was forged, warning that the development poses a serious threat to constitutional governance and public trust.
In a press statement issued by its spokesperson and Head of Communications, Olajumoke Alawode-James, on Monday, the group condemned what it described as the silence of the Federal Government over the alleged forgery.
It insisted that any tax law not validly passed by the legislature and assented to cannot be enforced in a democracy.
Alawode-James stated, “A tax law not validly passed by the legislature and assented to cannot be enforced in any democracy. This is an attempt to replace legality with convenience, and it is unacceptable.”
The organisation stressed that Nigerian law is explicit on legislative procedures, particularly on taxation, noting that any parallel or forged framework has no legal standing.
It warned that enforcing such a document undermines transparency, due process and legislative authority, while exposing citizens to arbitrary enforcement.
Citizen Monitors further noted that the creation or circulation of forged public documents constitutes a criminal offence under Sections 465 to 467 of the Criminal Code Act, as well as similar provisions in the Penal Code, with serious penalties attached.
Describing the situation as criminal, Co-founder of Citizen Monitors, Adeshop Haastrup, said those responsible must be investigated and prosecuted.
Haastrup said, “What has happened is criminal. In any serious country, those who draft, circulate, or enforce a forged law are investigated and prosecuted.
“If a government confronted by allegations of forgery will not confront the forgery of laws, what hope remains for the rule of law?”
The group called for an independent investigation to determine how the alleged forged or irregular document entered official use, as well as prosecution and accountability for all individuals and agencies involved in drafting, circulating, or enforcing the invalid law.
The statement added, “An independent investigation to determine how a forged or irregular document entered official use.
“Prosecution and accountability for all individuals and agencies involved in drafting, circulating, or enforcing the invalid law.
“This is not just about taxes. It is about defending constitutional governance. If forged laws can be enforced without consequence, then no citizen is safe from arbitrary power.”
Citizen Monitors reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accountability, transparency and citizen participation, and urged civil society organisations, professional bodies, and the media to demand clarity and justice on the matter.
The controversy over the tax reforms has been building for months.
Earlier, some civil society groups urged the federal government to clarify provisions of the new tax regime, including concerns about practical implementation and public understanding of the changes.
The tax reforms encompass several major Acts, such as the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, aimed at overhauling the nation’s tax system, eliminating duplications, and potentially broadening the tax base.
The laws have also faced legal resistance.
However, a Federal High Court recently upheld their implementation despite public protests aimed at delaying their commencement.
Amid the ongoing controversy, a House of Representatives committee confirmed that there were alterations in some of the tax laws between the versions passed by the National Assembly and those distributed later.
Also, tax experts have warned that discrepancies between the versions of the laws could erode legal certainty and undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s legislative process.
