PRE- ACTION NOTICE AGAINST AREA COUNCILS IN FCT TO CEASE AND DESIST FROM UNLAWFUL AND ILLEGAL ENFORCEMENT OF TAXATION AND COLLECTION OF RATES CONTAINED IN A NOTICE TITLED “HARMONIZED DEMAND NOTICE”
By a letter signed by Human Rights Lawyer Maduabuchi O.Idam on behalf of Grassroots Accountability Foundation and League for Social Justice, we as Civil Societies have issued a Pre- Action Notice against; Abuja Municipal Area Council, Gwagwalada Area Council, Kuje and Bwari Area Councils together with their consultant otherwise known as technical partners, directing them to cease and desist from the illegal and unlawful enforcement and collection of taxes, rates and charges listed and described in a notice christened “Harmonized Demand Notice”, from residents of the FCT.
By the Pre-Action Notice, we insist that in the enforcement or collection of the outrageous taxes and rates outlined in the said “Harmonized Demand Notice”, the Councils are acting and have acted unlawfully, illegally and unconstitutionally. All rates and taxes which the Area Councils are empowered to collect under the law must be one that Councils are empowered by the Constitution to collect, and same must have been domesticated in Councils bye- Laws, having the amount also specially provided thereto.
It is our resolution that failure to yield to the demand made in our letter, we shall be constrained to approach the court against the Area Councils in order to seek redress.
No one must take undue advantage over another under any guise in the society.
M.O.Idam.
