Business
BREAKING: GHL FLOORS FIRST BANK IN COURT
Justice Dipeolu sets aside freezing orders against GHL, Judge Says First Bank suppressed relevant facts to secure Order.
In a landmark victory for General Hydrocarbons Limited, the Federal High Court in Lagos has set aside an order of Mareva injunction freezing the assets of the company and its directors.
The court, while upholding the arguments of GHL’s counsel, Abiodun Layonu, SAN as well as the arguments of Olumide Aju, SAN representing the 2nd to 5th defendants in the case held that the injunction violated an existing order from a court of concurrent jurisdiction.
In his ruling, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, stated that when compared with an earlier order issued by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa in Suit No. 1953, the Mareva Injunction should be set aside.
The court found that First Bank of Nigeria and FBNQUEST LTD, at whose instance the order was procured, failed to fully disclose Justice Lewis-Allagoa’s order, which made the Mareva Injunction incompatible with the earlier ruling.
The court consequently agreed with GHL and the 2nd to 5th defendants that First Bank deliberately “suppressed facts” to mislead the court into granting the order against GHL.
The court in the circumstance, said it had no choice but to set aside the order freezing GHL accounts as well as the accounts of all the other defendants in the case.
First Bank had approached the court via an ex-parte application against General Hydrocarbons Limited and 15 other entities even when there was a subsiting judgement.
Responding to the suit, GHL and some of the defendants urged the court to discharge the order freezing its assets and accounts on the grounds that the court was misled in granting same.
The oil firm argued that the order was obtained through fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment of material facts.
GHL and other applicants accused First Bank of misleading the court to obtain orders against them.
They argued that had all the facts been presented before the trial judge, the order against them would not have been granted.
The trial judge upheld GHL’s arguments and consequently set aside the freezing order.
Meanwhile , GHL directors who were also negatively affected by the ex parte freezing order have begun proceedings worldwide against First Bank, seeking $1bn each in damages for defamation and wrongful freezing of their accounts.
GHL is also bringing a case in the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee against First Bank lawyers, Babajide Koku, SAN and Victor Ogude SAN for unprofessional conduct.
Business
NRS Chair: New tax laws won’t be implemented until January
According to Adedeji, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS by the signing of the bills into Law is now the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), explaining that the new law now defines the NRS’s expanded mandates…
•President Bola Tinubu shake hands with NRS Chairman, Zach Adedeji.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (formerly FIRS), Zach Adedeji, has disclosed that the implementation of the newly signed four tax fiscal reform laws will commence by January 1st, 2026.
Adedeji told State House correspondents shortly after the President signed the bills into law, the previous day.
Adedeji said that the modalities will be put in place ahead of the implementation.
Adedeji further explained that the six-month period between the enactment of the new fiscal laws is designed to give ample time to those saddled with the implementation to carefully prepare and ensure that all Nigerians are adequately sensitised.
According to Adedeji, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS by the signing of the bills into Law is now the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), explaining that the new law now defines the NRS’s expanded mandate, including non-tax revenue collection, and lays out transparency, accountability, and efficiency mechanisms.
Business
President Tinubu List Economic Expectations from New Tax Laws
On his verified X handle @officialABAT, the President had said that the new tax laws form the groundwork for the Nigeria of tomorrow, focused on unlocking opportunities for all.
President Bola Tinubu said today that the four tax reforms bills he signed into law reflect his administration’s resolve to create a modern, transparent, and efficient tax system capable of supporting national development, promoting investment, and reducing the burden of multiple taxation on citizens.
President Tinubu explained that the laws would be unifying Nigeria’s fragmented tax system, remove redundant overlaps, boost investor confidence, enhance transparency, and promote coordinated efforts across all levels.
He also described the legislation as a clear departure from previous policies, emphasising that the reforms are designed to ease the burden on working families, small businesses, and low-income earners while eliminating inefficiencies that have long plagued Nigeria’s fiscal structure.
On his verified X handle @officialABAT, the President had said that the new tax laws form the groundwork for the Nigeria of tomorrow, focused on unlocking opportunities for all.
“We are also building a framework for the Nigeria of tomorrow-leaner, fairer and laser focused on unlocking opportunities for all,” he said.
He added : ” These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet.
Designed to overhaul Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue administration framework, the laws which have been described as a major leap in the nation’s economic reform drive.
“For too long, our tax system has been a patchwork-complex, inequitable, and burdensome. It has weighed down the vulnerable and shielded inefficiency. That era ends today.”
Business
Tinubu signs four Tax Reform Bills to law today
The bills were recently passed by the National Assembly following extensive stakeholders consultations and technical reviews.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will today (Thursday) sign into law four tax reform bills set to overhaul Nigeria’s fiscal landscape, streamline tax administration, and boost investor confidence.
The ceremonial signing is scheduled to take place at the State House, Abuja.
In a statement , Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said that the four bills are : the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill
The bills were recently passed by the National Assembly following extensive stakeholders consultations and technical reviews.
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