VAT Collection: FIRS Files Appeal Against Federal High Court Judgment

Following a recent ruling of a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on the collection of Value Added Tax, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has filed an appeal against it.

This was contained in a statement by the FIRS Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad in which he said that the Federal Government agency has also sought an injunction pending appeal and a stay of execution of the High Court judgment.

The statement further states; “This is to inform the general public that the Federal Inland Revenue Service has lodged an appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt Judicial Division delivered by Honourable Justice Stephen Pam, in SUIT NO. FHC/PH/CS/149/2020-ATTORNEY GENERAL OF RIVERS STATE vs FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE & ANOTHER.

“We have also sought an injunction pending appeal and a Stay of Execution of the said judgment.

“As the decision is being appealed and in view of the pending applications for injunction and stay of execution which the FIRS has filed in court against the judgment, members of the public are advised to continue complying with the Value Added Tax obligations until the matter is resolved by the appellate courts in order to avoid accruing the consequent penalties and interest for non-compliance,” Ahmad said.