The Tax Appeal Tribunal, Abuja on Wednesday ordered former Nigerian Bar Association president Joseph Daudu to pay the sum of N248.5 million to the Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS), being his tax assessments.
The sum which comprised N176,565,016.74 as value added tax ( VAT) from 2010 to 2017 and N71,987,564.52 as withholding tax ( WHT) from 2010 to 2017 formed the grand total.
The ruling was made in an appeal filed by Mr Daudu to challenge an alleged N1.2 billion tax error in his taxation allegedly carried out by FIRS.
The tribunal also gave an order on the issue of Daudu’s residency in regards to his personal income tax.
In the judgment, the tribunal stated that the appellant was liable to interest on the judgment sum and interest at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) rediscount rate from the date of judgment until judgment debt was liquidated.
Daudu filed an appeal to express dissatisfaction with the decision to assess him with respect to WHT and VAT to the sum of N1. 2 billion.
The appellant claimed that it was a misnomer for him, who operated a law firm as a legal practitioner and did not deal in primary goods, to be assessed on withholding tax (WHT).
FIRS in its argument said that its assessments were not in error and that it was discovered that the appellant did not deduct and remit WHT on some of the expenses and payments made under the period in review.
