What We Know About The Court Of Appeal Ruling of Friday, September 10, Ordering That The Status Quo Ante Bellum Be Maintained
The Court of Appeal ordered that the Status Quo Ante Bellum be maintained on the judgement of the Federal High Court on Rivers State vs. FIRS.
Status Quo Ante Bellum means the state of affairs as existed previously.
The FIRS applied for a stay of execution of this judgment.
The Court of Appeal did not hear the FIRS motion for stay of execution, but ruled that before it hears that application, next week, parties should not do anything that would give effect to the judgment of the Federal High Court.
The judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State is stayed and the status quo ante bellum will remain till the Court of Appeal hears the FIRS’ application for stay of execution.
Taxpayers will continue to make their VAT payment to the Federal Government as has always been the case.
The Appeal Court ruling restrains Rivers State Government, or any other state government from compelling businesses and residents of their state to pay VAT to it.
The final position on this matter, except appealed further to the Supreme Court, will be decided by the Court of Appeal at the end of hearing of the case.