Outrageous Taxes: Lawyer, CSO issues Pre-Action notice against FCT area councils

Human Rights activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam has issued a Pre-Action notice against Abuja Municipal Area Council, Gwagwalada Area Council, Kuje and Bwari Area Councils over the enforcement and collection of outrageous taxes.

Idam charged the area councils to cease and desist from illegal and unlawful enforcement of the taxes.

This was contained in a letter on behalf of civil societies, Grassroots Accountability Foundation and League for Social Justice.

The activist lawyer said it was in reaction to the notice “Harmonized demand notice” issued to residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Idam vowed to ensure legal actions are taken against the area councils if they fail to yield to demands made.

According to Idam: “By a letter signed by Human Rights Lawyer Maduabuchi Idam on behalf of Grassroots Accountability Foundation and League for Social Justice, we as Civil Societies have issued a Pre-Action Notice against Abuja Municipal Area Council, Gwagwalada Area Council, Kuje and Bwari Area Councils together with their consultant otherwise known as technical partners, directing them to cease and desist from the illegal and unlawful enforcement and collection of taxes, rates and charges listed and described in a notice christened “Harmonized Demand Notice,” from residents of the FCT.

“All rates and taxes which the Area Councils are empowered to collect under the law must be one that Councils are empowered by the Constitution to collect and the same must have been domesticated in Councils bye- Laws, having the amount also specially provided thereto.

“It is our resolution that failure to yield to the demand made in our letter, we shall be constrained to approach the court against the Area Councils in order to seek redress.

“No one must take undue advantage over another under any guise in the society.”