Citizen Monitors demand a probe into alleged 2025 Tax Law forgery, warning it threatens constitutional governance and public trust in Nigeria

Citizen advocacy group, Citizen Monitors, has called for an urgent probe into allegations that the 2025 Tax Law was forged, warning that the situation poses a grave threat to constitutional governance and public trust.

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The group made the call in a press statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson and Head of Communications, Olajumoke Alawode-James, where it criticised what it described as the silence of the Federal Government over the alleged 2025 Tax Law forgery.

Alawode-James said any tax legislation not properly passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President cannot be enforced in a democratic system.

She described the alleged development as a dangerous attempt to substitute legality with administrative convenience.

“A tax law not validly passed by the legislature and assented to cannot be enforced in any democracy. This is an attempt to replace legality with convenience, and it is unacceptable,” she said.

Citizen Monitors stressed that Nigerian law clearly outlines legislative procedures, particularly on taxation, noting that any parallel or forged framework lacks legal standing.

The group warned that enforcing such a document would undermine transparency, due process and legislative authority, while exposing citizens to arbitrary enforcement.

The organisation further pointed out that the creation or circulation of forged public documents constitutes a criminal offence under Sections 465 to 467 of the Criminal Code Act and similar provisions of the Penal Code, attracting severe penalties.

Describing the alleged 2025 Tax Law forgery as criminal, Co founder of Citizen Monitors, Adeshop Haastrup, said those responsible must be investigated and prosecuted to protect the rule of law.

“What has happened is criminal. In any serious country, those who draft, circulate, or enforce a forged law are investigated and prosecuted,” Haastrup said.

He added that failure to address allegations of forged laws raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to legality and accountability.

Citizen Monitors called for an independent investigation to establish how the alleged forged or irregular document entered official circulation.

The group also demanded prosecution and accountability for all individuals and agencies involved in drafting, circulating or enforcing the disputed law.

“This is not just about taxes. It is about defending constitutional governance. If forged laws can be enforced without consequence, then no citizen is safe from arbitrary power,” the statement said.

The controversy surrounding the 2025 Tax Law forgery has been building for months, with civil society organisations earlier urging the Federal Government to clarify provisions of the tax reforms amid concerns over implementation and public understanding.

The reforms include major legislation such as the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, designed to overhaul the tax system, reduce duplication and potentially broaden the tax base. Despite protests, a Federal High Court recently upheld their implementation.

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However, a House of Representatives committee has since confirmed alterations between versions of the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and those later circulated, while tax experts warn that such discrepancies could weaken legal certainty and erode public confidence in Nigeria’s legislative process.