NEFGAD tax investigation urged as advocacy group demands urgent probe into altered gazetted tax laws in Nigeria
The Network for the Actualization of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD), a Nigerian civic advocacy group, has formally written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly, demanding an immediate and independent investigation into confirmed unlawful alterations to Nigeria’s newly gazetted tax laws.
The organisation’s acting head of office, Mr Blessing Nnekwu Ojo, emphasised in the letter that the changes, confirmed by the National Assembly, constitute a direct assault on constitutional order, legislative integrity, and democratic governance.
NEFGAD called on the president to identify where the legislative process was compromised, establish the scope of the alterations, and ensure appropriate sanctions for all involved.
“The integrity of the legislative process has been fundamentally breached,” the letter stated.
“Any alteration to a law passed by the National Assembly, whether by omission, substitution, or addition, undermines public trust, fiscal certainty, and investor confidence.”
NEFGAD warned that failure to act promptly could compel the organisation to seek judicial redress, including possible proceedings before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice over matters of legislative impunity and institutional abuse.
The advocacy group highlighted that the situation carries severe implications for Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that decisive action, transparency, and accountability are expected from the nation’s leadership.
NEFGAD reaffirmed its commitment to defending democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.
In addition to urging legal and governmental scrutiny, NEFGAD’s letter underscores the broader consequences of altering gazetted laws, noting potential reputational risks to both the country and the current administration.
Fresh concerns have emerged over compliance with a court order issued by the High Court of Kano State on April 8, 2026, restraining key parties—including the Honourable Minister of Education, the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, and Pluck Global Company Limited—from further actions pending the determination of the matter before the court.
Findings indicate that while all parties—except the concessionaire, Pluck Global Company Limited—were duly served within two days of the order, significant challenges were encountered in effecting service on the company, raising troubling questions about its corporate traceability and regulatory vetting.
A review of the company’s records filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed addresses that could not be verified as functional business locations. Notably, documentation submitted to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, dated June 20, 2024, listed two addresses: 8B, Lalupon Street, off Keffi Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as its head office, and 3 Bargery Road, Bompai, Kano, as its branch office.
However, a physical visit to the Ikoyi address revealed that the entire property is occupied by a company identified as Golden Alchemy, whose staff категорically denied any knowledge of, or shared occupancy with, Pluck Global Company Limited.
Efforts to trace the Kano address yielded even more unsettling findings. The location—a locked duplex—showed no visible signs of commercial activity. Neighbours, while reluctant to speak on record, alluded to irregular movements at odd hours, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the premises as a corporate office.
In a twist, after multiple attempts to establish contact, an individual purportedly representing the company surfaced in Kano and agreed to receive and acknowledge the court order on April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:00 pm. Curiously, the Ikoyi address—already discredited—was again listed as the company’s official address in the acknowledgment.
These developments raise critical questions regarding due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols on the part of the Federal Ministry of Education. They also cast a spotlight on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), should a concession agreement indeed have been executed with the company. Stakeholders say it would be instructive to review the addresses contained in all official correspondences and contractual documents linked to the transaction.
Meanwhile, a visit to the premises of Federal Government College, Kano, revealed ongoing construction activity, with workers observed excavating foundations. When approached, the workers declined to disclose the authority under which they were operating—despite the subsistence of a court order restraining further action.
Notably, a previously installed project billboard bearing the insignia of the school authorities and the Federal Ministry of Education had been removed. Sources within the institution suggest that the directive for its removal may have emanated from the Ministry following receipt of the court order.
The unfolding situation presents a complex mix of legal, regulatory, and accountability issues—raising the spectre of possible non-compliance with judicial directives, as well as deeper concerns about transparency in public-private concession arrangements.
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