Following a recent order by the federal high court in Port Harcourt issuing an order restraining the FIRS from collecting VAT and personal income tax (PIT) in Rivers state, the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has ordered all parties to maintain the status quo and refrain from taking action that would give effect to the judgement of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
A three-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani gave the order on Friday while ruling on an appeal filed by the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS).
The court also ruled that the motion of joinder by the Lagos State government be heard and gave the applicants two days to file their written addresses.
Similarly, the respondents have been given two days to file their response, while the applicants were given a day to reply on the point of law.
Meanwhile, the Lagos state government has applied to the court of appeal in Abuja to be joined as a co-respondent in the appeal filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) challenging the judgment of the federal high court, Port Harcourt.
This development is coming amid a legal battle over VAT collection between FIRS and some state governments.
