News

Vindictive Tax: Court Restrains Osun Govt From Arresting NBA Chairman

Vindictive Tax: Court Restrains Osun Govt From Arresting NBA Chairman

court, AzibaolaAn Osun State High Court, sitting in Ilesa, presided over by Justice Kola Adegoke, on Wednesday, restrained Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the state government and its agents from arresting, persecuting and or prosecuting the chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ilesa branch, Barrister Kanmi Ajibola.
Members of the NBA, in Ilesa, had approached the court, seeking ex-parte order, restraining Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, and state agents from arresting and persecuting Ajibola over the payment of property tax and any other related matter, pending the determination of the suit, challenging the constitutionality of the State Tax Law.
Barrister Nathaniel Folorunso, who led 32 other lawyers contended that the ex-parte motion, backed with sworn affidavit and exhibits should be granted, considering the prevailing situation.
The plaintiff, Ajibola, in a 43-page affidavits, argued that the defendant, Aregbesola, vindictively imposed a heavy tax of over N5.3 million on him and  that in January 2018 alone, he was given a tax bill of N577,000, stressing that “the imposition of which is unprecedented to any person or persons in my calibre.”
He further stated that “the governor is too embittered by some of the cases have against him among which include: Kanmi Ajibola Vs The Governor Osun State suit no. HOS/M.89/2016, Kanmi Ajibola Vs The Osun State Governor, suit no. HOS/46/2016”.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Adegoke granted the ex-parte motion and subsequently restrained the governor and any of his officials from victimising, persecuting, causing the arrest, arraignment, prosecution of Ajibola in his court or any other court, on tax or other related matters pending the hearing and determination of a substantive case before him.
– Nigerian Tribune

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button