By Eseoghene Emuke
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has constituted a seven-man committee to challenge the legality of the newly introduced yearly renewal of vehicle proof of Ownership Certificates by Joint Tax Board.
Joint Tax Board had last week announced the introduction of ‘Yearly Renewal’ of vehicles proof of ownership.
The body said vehicle ownership will pay at least N1,000 to renew their proof of ownership certificates.
But reacting to the development, the Nigerian Bar Association through its Public Interest Litigation and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) committee declared that the Association will challenge the policy in the interest of the Nigerian public.
The constitution of the seven-man committee headed by Mr. Kunle Edun Eqs. was contained in a statement signed by Chairman, NBA-SPIDEL, John Aikpokpo-Martins, and Secretary NBA-SPIDEL, Funmi Adeogun.
The statement read, “Pursuant to our mandate as the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest Litigation and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) which amongs others, is to defend the interest of the public against oppressive and illegal policies of public authorities, and the overall objective of the NBA to defend the rights of the people, we, the officers of SPIDEL hereby set up this Legal Team to critically examine the legality of the policy and take necessary legal actions, including litigation, to frontally challenge same immediately.
“Members of the Legal Team are: Kunle Edun (Lead Counsel), Francis Ogunbowale (Ikeja branch), Maxwell Opara (Abuja branch), Felix Akpowowo (Warri branch), Adeola Folarin (Ikeja branch), Ibrahim Al-Hussein (Gombe branch), and Izu Aniagu (Enugu branch).
According to the statement, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ikeazor Akaraiwe, will serve as a consultant to the legal team.
