The Court of Appeal in Abuja has okayed Lagos State application to join as a respondent in the suit challenging Federal Inland Revenue Service FIRS on the collection of Value Added Tax(VAT).
Justice Haruna Simon Tsamani in the ruling held that Lagos has established beyond doubt that it has substantial and sufficient legal right and interest to protect in the ongoing revenue collection dispute.
Consequently, the court ordered that all processes filed in respect of the suit, be served on Lagos as a third respondent to enable the state respond as required by law to the appeal filed by FIRS.
Meanwhile, the matter has been moved from Abuja to Port Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal for further hearing of the case.
He, therefore, fixed the October 7 continuation of further hearing in the matter.
The appeal by the FIRS is against the August 9, 2021 judgment by Justice Steven Pam of the Federal High Court in Port-Harcourt, voiding the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act and holding the states could collect VAT.
A three-man panel, led by Justice Haruna Simon Tsanami, after listening to arguments by lawyers to parties on September 16, said they would be informed when the ruling was ready.