The group cautioned Nigerians to prepare for severe economic hardship and worsening insecurity beginning in 2026.
A Yoruba socio-cultural group, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has raised alarm over what it claims is a covert move by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use an allegedly “manipulated” tax law to confiscate citizens’ properties without recourse to the courts.
In a statement released on Saturday, the organisation alleged that the Federal Government tampered with a tax reform bill duly passed by the National Assembly and subsequently forwarded a different version for official gazetting. According to the group, this action removes constitutional safeguards and grants tax authorities sweeping powers to seize and dispose of private assets within 14 days of an alleged tax default, without judicial approval.
The statement, jointly signed by the group’s Convener, Olusola Badero, and issued through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, described the alleged move as hostile to the interests of the people and businesses, warning that it could plunge millions more Nigerians into poverty and social instability.
The organisation said the alleged discrepancy only became public after a lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdusammad Dasuki, reportedly drew attention to differences between the version of the bill approved by lawmakers and the one eventually gazetted by the executive.
According to the group, without Dasuki’s intervention, Nigerians would have remained unaware that the president was allegedly involved in altering a law passed by the legislature before sending it for publication at the National Archives. It described the allegation as a major embarrassment on the international stage, noting that it involved legislation with far-reaching implications for the lives, livelihoods, and properties of over 220 million Nigerians.
Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá stressed that during legislative debates, lawmakers clearly agreed that tax authorities must secure a court order before seizing or selling any citizen’s assets over tax obligations. However, the group alleged that this critical safeguard was deliberately removed from the version released by the Tinubu administration.
The organisation further claimed that the gazetted version goes beyond removing judicial oversight by reportedly stating that courts have no authority to review administrative decisions taken by tax agencies concerning asset seizures. It described this provision as dangerous, unconstitutional, and reflective of authoritarian tendencies.
Warning that the development poses a serious threat to the rule of law, the group said unchecked powers in the hands of tax officials would inevitably encourage abuse, intimidation, and politically motivated asset seizures.
The union also argued that the alleged tax provisions would severely damage small and medium-sized enterprises already under pressure from inflation, fuel price increases, currency depreciation, and shrinking consumer spending. It questioned how a government whose policies have made daily survival increasingly difficult could justify confiscating people’s businesses and properties, warning that such actions would inevitably fuel crime and social unrest.
According to the group, indiscriminate property seizures would trigger business shutdowns, job losses, and a rise in criminal activities such as theft and armed robbery. It stressed that insecurity thrives in environments where citizens are deprived of the means to earn a living.
The organisation also challenged the moral justification for aggressive tax enforcement in a country where, it argued, citizens see little return from public revenues. It lamented the absence of basic infrastructure, the high number of out-of-school children, the dilapidated state of schools and hospitals, and the poor remuneration and morale of teachers and health workers.
Additionally, the group criticised members of Nigeria’s political class for seeking medical treatment abroad at public expense while ordinary citizens are left to endure a failing healthcare system. It described the situation as deeply unjust, especially as taxpayers are subjected to policies that worsen their living conditions.
Calling for nationwide resistance, the Yoruba union urged Nigerians of all backgrounds to oppose what it described as a dangerous and anti-people tax regime. It warned that remaining silent would amount to endorsing oppression.
Describing forgery as a serious criminal offence under Nigerian law, the group demanded a comprehensive investigation into the alleged alteration of the tax legislation. It insisted that all those involved must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted, stressing that no individual is above the law.
While acknowledging the constitutional immunity enjoyed by the president while in office, the organisation maintained that officials who allegedly carried out the act on his behalf should be held immediately accountable. It added that immunity should not be mistaken for impunity and insisted that the president himself must face justice after leaving office if the allegations are proven.