GAZETTED TAX LAWS: HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER WANTS CLERK SUSPENDED

A senior lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Edward Omaga has urged the National Assembly to “immediately” suspend the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Kamorudeen Ogunlana, for dereliction of duty.

In a complaint addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and made available to CITY LAWYER, the activist proposed “That the House of Representatives PASSES a Resolution recommending to the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) that Mr. Kamorudeen Ogunlana be immediately suspended as Clerk to the National Assembly for inability to perform his statutory duty.”

He also urged the Speaker to establish an Independent Panel of Enquiry “comprising experts in legislative drafting, constitutional law, forensic document examination and public administration to investigate the allegations against the Clerk to the National Assembly.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP–Sokoto), had raised an alarm that the versions of the new Tax Laws gazetted by the Federal Government are different from the ones passed by the National Assembly.

Below is the full text of the complaint, even as it remains unclear whether Ogunlana has become aware of the complaint.

17th December, 2025.
Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD
The Speaker, House of Representatives,
National Assembly Complex,
Three Arms Zone,
FCT-Abuja, Nigeria.

Dear Sir,

DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OF MR. KAMORUDEEN OGUNLANA AS CLERK TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR VIOLATING HIS STATUTORY DUTY OF ENGROSSMENT UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE ACTS AUTHENTICATION ACT, 1961 AND CALL FOR AN UNHINDERED INVESTIGATION INTO DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE TAX REFORM ACTS PASSED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE VERSIONS PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

By way of introduction, my name is Edward OMAGA, Esq. and I was called to the Nigerian Bar on 10th May, 2007. In furtherance of my professional development, I obtained a Masters Degree in Legislative Drafting from the prestigious University of Abuja in 2023. I presently serve as the Principal Partner of Graylaw Practice LP with offices in Abuja and Lagos.

I write to formally demand your urgent intervention on the above matter, which raises grave constitutional, legislative, administrative and governance concerns. No doubt, the matter strikes at the very heart of Nigeria’s law-making process and as an expert in the field of legislative drafting and advocacy l cannot afford to let it slide. On Wednesday, 17th December 2025, the Nigerian public was alerted, through proceedings on the Floor of the House of Representatives, to deeply troubling allegations made by Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP–Sokoto) to the effect that the Tax Reform Bills passed into Acts by the National Assembly materially differ from the versions subsequently published in the Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and circulated to the public.

According to Hon. Dasuki, he spent days to carefully review and compare the Votes and Proceedings of the House, the harmonized versions of the Tax Reforms Acts approved by both Chambers of the National Assembly and the gazetted copies obtained from official sources. It has become apparent that the laws currently in circulation do not reflect what was debated, voted upon and duly passed by the National Assembly. He stated unequivocally on the Floor of the House that he personally participated in the voting process and was alarmed to discover that the published versions differed from the approved legislative texts.

I submit that if established, these allegations reveal a fundamental breach of legislative procedure. It would be tantamount to a violation of parliamentary sovereignty and a direct affront to constitutionalism and the rule of law. More specifically, the allegations point to a breach of the statutory duty of engrossment of all Bills and Legislations, which rests on the shoulders of the Clerk to the National Assembly under Section 5 of the Acts Authentication Act, 1961. In view of the gravity of these developments and in the overriding interest of transparency, accountability and the integrity of the legislative process, I hereby demand:

That the House of Representatives PASSES a Resolution recommending to the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) that Mr. Kamorudeen Ogunlana be immediately suspended as Clerk to the National Assembly for inability to perform his statutory duty.

That the Honourable Speaker CONSTITUTES an Independent Panel of Enquiry comprising experts in legislative drafting, constitutional law, forensic document examination and public administration to investigate the allegations against the Clerk to the National Assembly. The Panelists should be given unrestricted access to all relevant legislative records to enable them do a thorough job.

That the Honourable Speaker RECALLS all copies of the affected Tax Reforms Acts that have been gazetted, sold, distributed or otherwise circulated to Nigerians in any form whatsoever. This will prevent confusion amongst individuals and corporate organizations that may rely on the invalid Acts to take tax decisions.

That Mr. Kamorudeen Ogunlana being the Clerk to the National Assembly who abdicated his duty of crosschecking and engrossing the Tax Reforms Acts before gazetting and circulating same through the Federal Ministry of Information be DIRECTED to refund of all monies collected from Nigerians who have purchased such invalid, defective or unauthorized copies of the Acts.

That the Clerk to the National Assembly be COMPELLED to tender an unreserved and written public apology to Nigerians for the losses they may have suffered by purchasing the invalid, defective or unauthorized copies of the Tax Reforms Acts.

TAKE NOTICE that unless the above demands are fully met within 7 (Seven) days from the date hereof, I shall, without further recourse to the House of Representatives, seek redress before a court of competent jurisdiction. In essence, I will be acting as a concerned, interested and patriotic citizen of our dear country Nigeria to ask the court for certain declaratory and injunctive reliefs together with monetary damages. I trust that your office will not allow this matter to be overshadowed by sentiments or politics, as I and many other Nigerians expect it to receive urgent attention and treatment.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

PP: GRAYLAW PRACTICE LP
E-signed
Edward OMAGA, Esq.
(Principal Partner)

CC:

President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission; and
Secretary, National Assembly Service Commission.

ATTACHMENTS:

APPENDIX A: The Guardian Nigeria — Report on allegations that gazetted tax reform laws differ from versions passed by the National Assembly.

APPENDIX B: The Punch Newspaper — Report on the House of Representatives raising alarm over alleged alterations to tax laws.

APPENDIX C: BusinessDay Nigeria — Report on discrepancies between tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the gazetted versions.

APPENDIX D: TheCable Nigeria — Report on Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki’s allegations regarding inconsistencies in the tax reform laws.

APPENDIX E: PM News Nigeria — Report on alleged changes discovered in gazetted tax laws.

APPENDIX F: Tribune Online — Report on alleged fake or altered tax reform laws in circulation.

APPENDIX G: Legit.ng — Report on constitutional concerns arising from discrepancies in tax laws.

APPENDIX H: The Will Nigeria — Report on Sokoto lawmaker flagging discrepancies between passed tax bills and gazetted versions.

APPENDIX I: Persecond News — Report on the House of Representatives flagging unauthorised changes to tax laws.

APPENDIX J: Video Recording of the House of Representatives Plenary Session in which Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP–Sokoto) raised the allegations.

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