Author: Lawbreed Limited

The Federal Government has issued the general guidelines for the implementation of the Tax Acts 2025, setting out the process for transition from the repealed tax laws to the new tax framework effective from January 1, 2026. A key highlight of the guidelines, issued Thursday in Abuja, is that tax returns relating to accounting periods ending before January 1, 2026, will be filed under the previous tax laws, while returns falling due from January 1, 2026, onward will be administered under the new tax framework. The guidelines provide direction to taxpayers, tax practitioners, revenue authorities and other stakeholders on how…

Introduction On 27th June, 2022, Justice Maha of the Federal High Court (“FHC”) declared the Finance Act 2019(FA 2019) as inapplicable to assessments covering the period up to 31st December 2019 since it came into effect on 13th January 2020. This is in consistent with a long line of judgments. The FHC made this decision in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1289/2020 Accugas Limited v. Federal Inland Revenue Service and The Attorney-General of the Federation. In the instant case, the Plaintiff has brought an action by way of originating summons before the FHC to determine the propriety of the assessment made by the…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of 46 microfinance banks across the country over various regulatory breaches and non-compliance with industry standards. The apex bank announced the decision as part of its efforts to strengthen the financial sector, protect depositors, and ensure adherence to established banking regulations. The affected institutions were listed in an official notice released by the CBN, which stated that the revocation took effect following the banks’ failure to meet key regulatory requirements. The move underscores the regulator’s commitment to maintaining stability, transparency, and public confidence in Nigeria’s financial system. According to…

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has launched the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS) at the Supreme Court, describing it as a transformative reform designed to modernise judicial administration, enhance operational efficiency, and safeguard the integrity of court records. The unveiling took place in Abuja on Wednesday during the official commencement of the NCMS and the enforcement of the Supreme Court (Mandatory Upload of Electronic Copies of Processes, Records of Appeal and Other Matters) Practice Directions, 2026. Justice Kekere-Ekun stated that the initiative represents a significant milestone in the judiciary’s digital transformation agenda, paving the way for…

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in two appeals filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) challenging conflicting rulings of the Federal High Court on its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections. A three-member panel of the appellate court, headed by Justice Adebukola Bankole, announced that a date for the judgment would be communicated to the parties after hearing arguments from counsel involved in the matter. Justice Bankole said the date for delivery of judgment would be communicated to the parties. The appeals arose from two separate suits filed before…

The Federal Government has announced plans to discontinue the policy that separates Junior Secondary School (JSS) from Senior Secondary School (SSS), citing concerns over the growing number of students who fail to progress beyond the junior secondary level. According to the government, over 20 million pupils drop out of the education system before reaching senior secondary school, prompting the need for reforms aimed at improving retention and ensuring a smoother transition through secondary education. Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the policy, introduced to separate junior and senior secondary education into distinct administrative structures, had failed to achieve its…

The UK’s Home Office has introduced reforms that will see asylum seekers paying around £10,000 (around N18 million) to be eligible for settlement. The bill was introduced to parliament on Tuesday and sets out new powers for the Home Office to recover costs from adults who have received asylum support such as subsistence or accommodation, provided they have access to sufficient funds. Asylum seekers have not typically been expected to pay to seek settlement, and it is not a global norm. However, Shabana Mahmood, home secretary, said asylum seekers in the UK have become a financial burden on the taxpayer.…

President Donald Trump, in his usual gruff manner, elbowed aside a major loss Tuesday at the Supreme Court, whose 6-3 decision struck down one of his signature initiatives: an effort to limit birthright citizenship. Trump and some of his congressional allies, according to NBC News, quickly said they weren’t fully giving up the fight, saying they believed one path was to pass a law including the same provisions as his defeated order. But with the current makeup of Congress, that legislation would be dead on arrival. “The Supreme Court upheld Birthright Citizenship, which is too bad for our Country, but…

Mr Collins Ogbetamah, a lawmaker representing Udu Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly lost his seat on Tuesday after he announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Ogbetamah had in a letter dated June 19 to the Speaker of Delta Assembly, Mr Dennis Guwor, formally notified the house of his defection from the APC to the NDC. Following deliberations, Majority Leader of the assembly, Dr Emeka Nwaobi invoked relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, moving a motion declaring the seat vacant and requesting INEC to conduct a by-election. The…

The Federal Government’s newly approved reform of the National Youth Service Corps splits the orientation programme into three distinct phases and introduces 11 specialised career streams that corps members will select from at registration, according to details provided by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, on Monday. The Federal Executive Council on Monday approved the comprehensive overhaul of the 53-year-old scheme, with the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, describing it as the first holistic review of NYSC since it was established in 1973. Briefing State House correspondents alongside Olawande after the FEC…