Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised a red flag over what he described as a dangerous drift in Nigeria’s governance, accusing the federal government of altering laws passed by the National Assembly before they were gazetted.
The warning follows concerns in the House of Representatives over discrepancies found in the gazetted versions of four tax reform acts recently signed by President Bola Tinubu.
In a strongly worded statement on his X handle on Saturday, Obi said Nigeria has moved beyond financial manipulation into outright legislative distortion, a development he warned could erode public trust and weaken constitutional order.
According to Obi, the newly gazetted tax laws allegedly contain provisions never approved by lawmakers, including a mandatory 20 percent deposit before tax appeals can be heard in court, powers to sell assets without judicial oversight, and authority for tax officials to arrest citizens.
He described the alleged additions as coercive and damaging to taxpayers’ rights and access to justice.
“We have transitioned from a Nigeria where budgets are padded to one where laws are forged—changes that impact taxpayers’ rights and, most importantly, access to justice,” he said.
”Even more alarming is the introduction of new enforcement and coercive powers that the House of Representatives never approved.
”These include an outrageous requirement for a mandatory 20% deposit before appeals can be heard in court, asset sales without judicial oversight, and the granting of arrest powers to tax authorities.
“The silence of the Presidency on a matter involving allegations of forgery, institutional sabotage, and abuse of process is deeply disturbing.”
Obi demanded full disclosure of all versions of the laws involved, insisting Nigerians deserve clarity on what was passed, what was signed, and what ultimately became law.
“Nigerians need to understand what was signed, what was passed, and what was formally recorded,” he added.
“We cannot continue to ask citizens to pay more taxes while trust in governance collapses.”
The former governor called for strict adherence to due process, transparency, and accountability, warning that no nation can progress where laws are quietly manipulated.
