A socio-cultural organisation, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has raised alarm over what it described as an alleged plan by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to deploy a “forged” tax law to seize the properties of Nigerians without court orders.
The group warned citizens to brace for widespread hardship and heightened insecurity beginning from 2026 if the alleged provisions are not stopped.
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the group’s Convener, Olusola Badero, and released through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the organisation accused the Federal Government of altering a tax reform bill passed by the National Assembly and forwarding a different version for gazetting.
According to the group, the allegedly altered law empowers tax authorities to confiscate and sell citizens’ assets within 14 days of alleged tax default without judicial oversight — a move it described as “anti-people” and “anti-business.”
The organisation said the controversy came to light after Abdusammad Dasuki, a lawmaker from Sokoto State, reportedly exposed discrepancies between the version passed by lawmakers and the one gazetted by the executive.
“It is a monumental international embarrassment for the president of Africa’s most populous nation to be accused of forging a law that will affect the lives, livelihoods, and properties of over 220 million people,” the statement read.
The group alleged that lawmakers had clearly stipulated that a court order must be obtained before any property seizure, but claimed the gazetted version removed this safeguard and even suggested courts could not review administrative seizure decisions.
It warned that granting such unchecked powers would encourage abuse, intimidation, politically motivated confiscations, job losses, and business closures, pushing more Nigerians into poverty and crime.
The organisation argued that the alleged provisions would cripple small and medium-scale enterprises already struggling with inflation, fuel price hikes, currency depreciation and weak purchasing power.
It also questioned aggressive tax collection in a country where, according to it, citizens see little benefit from public revenue, citing poor hospitals, failing schools, and leaders travelling abroad for medical care at public expense.
Calling on Nigerians across ethnic and religious lines to resist the alleged “forged” law, the group demanded a full investigation.
“Forgery is a grave crime in Nigeria. Those involved in forging this law must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted. No one is above the law,” it stated.
While acknowledging presidential immunity, the group insisted that any officials allegedly involved should face immediate legal consequences, adding that President Tinubu should also be held accountable after leaving office if the allegations are proven.
The Federal Government has yet to issue a detailed response to the fresh allegations as calls for clarity and investigation continue to grow