The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has written to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to widely publish certified true copies of the tax bills received from the National Assembly and the tax laws signed into law.

SERAP made the request in a Freedom of Information letter dated December 20, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The organisation listed the documents it seeks to include the National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act; the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act; the Nigeria Tax Administration Act; and the Nigeria Tax Act.

SERAP also asked the President to direct the Attorney General to clarify whether the versions of the tax bills transmitted by the National Assembly are identical to those signed into law and subsequently gazetted.

SERAP further urged the President to establish an independent panel of inquiry to investigate allegations that there are material differences between the tax bills passed by the National Assembly and the tax laws eventually gazetted by the Federal Government.

According to the organisation, the panel should investigate what occurred and identify those responsible for any alleged alterations.

“The panel should be headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria or Court of Appeal. The findings of the panel should be made public. Anyone responsible for the alleged alterations must face prosecution, as appropriate,” SERAP stated.

SERAP said publishing certified true copies of the bills and laws would enable Nigerians to scrutinise and compare the documents with the gazetted versions.

The group warned that alleged unlawful alterations would violate the 1999 Constitution (as amended), international human rights law, and the principles of the rule of law and separation of powers.

“The law-making processes including the passing of any bills and signing them into laws, as well as gazetting the laws must meet the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution, the rule of law and separation of powers,” the letter read.

SERAP gave the Federal Government seven days to comply with its request, warning that it would institute legal action if there was no response.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions,” the organisation said.

National Assembly’s allegations cited

According to SERAP, the National Assembly has alleged unlawful alterations and material differences between the tax bills passed by both chambers and the versions gazetted by the Federal Government.

The organisation cited a motion raised under a matter of privilege by a Sokoto lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki, drawing attention to discrepancies between the harmonised bills approved by parliament and the gazetted copies.

SERAP said the National Assembly claimed that some provisions were inserted, deleted or modified after passage, without legislative approval.

It added that several oversight, accountability and reporting mechanisms approved by parliament were reportedly removed, while new coercive and fiscal powers were allegedly inserted without approval.

SERAP cited constitutional and international provisions guaranteeing the right to seek and receive information, stressing that citizens are entitled to access authentic and intelligible laws.

“The Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, and the human rights treaties rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities,” the organisation stated.

SERAP said its requests were made in the public interest and in line with Nigeria’s constitutional and international obligations on transparency and accountability.

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Nollywood actress, Doris Ogala, has been reportedly arrested following a heated online dispute linked to her recent allegations against a Lagos-based pastor, Chris Okafor.

It was reports that the arrest occurred on Saturday, December 20, 2025, during a live video session in which Ogala was speaking with an online personality.

While the livestream was ongoing, she confirmed that police officers were present inside her home.

She was also heard scolding a woman identified as Charity for allowing people into the house despite earlier warnings.

The interviewer advised her to keep her phone active and asked whether the officers had a warrant.

Shortly after the incident, comedian and former Big Brother Naija housemate Dee One announced on Instagram that Ogala had been arrested.

He stated that he had earlier cautioned the actress and added that she would now have to answer questions in court over the matter.

The situation followed a social media post by Ogala, in which she shared an image allegedly showing the cleric in a private setting.

In the post, she accused him of deceit and claimed she had video evidence to back her claims.

The controversy gained more attention after the pastor recently married a woman identified as Pearl earlier in the week.

The wedding reportedly went ahead despite Ogala’s online accusations, which included claims of betrayal, emotional manipulation and a broken promise of marriage after what she described as a long-term relationship.

Over the past few days, Ogala had shared emotional videos online in which she accused the cleric of damaging her life.

She claimed the relationship began around 2017 and alleged that she ended her previous marriage at his request, only to be left distressed after the relationship suddenly ended.

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Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has stated that terrorists in the country do not represent any religious group.

Addressing newsmen on Saturday in Sokoto, he stated that bandits are common criminals who merely seek available targets to attack.

He warned political leaders and the international community against politicising the country’s worsening insecurity.

Tambuwal described the recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by United States President Donald Trump as quite unfortunate.

He insisted that the designation does not reflect the true nature and complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges.

“I would like to believe that President Trump and the American government did not fully grasp or appreciate the Nigerian situation. What we are facing is not a religious crisis but a security crisis affecting Nigerians of all faiths and backgrounds.

“These marauders do not represent any religion. How else can one explain what they are doing in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and other states? They are common criminals, attacking every soul they come across.

“You can’t even go to the mosque or the church safely. So this is not about a particular section of the country or a particular religion. It is about Nigeria,” he said.

The former governor aligned himself with the Vatican’s position on Nigeria, noting that the Pope had rightly acknowledged that Nigerians, Christians and Muslims alike, are victims of widespread insecurity.

He emphasised that insecurity has become a national issue that transcends politics, ethnicity, and religion, insisting that collective action is urgently needed.

He called on the United States and other global partners to reconsider their stance and instead support the administration of President Bola Tinubu in addressing the crisis.

“It’s not about Bola Tinubu as a person. It’s not about APC or party politics. It’s about our country. Any country, America, France, the UK, Canada, that can support Nigeria to overcome insecurity should please do so,” the former governor added.

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