over stamp duties fund
The 36 states in Nigeria through their Attorney General have sued the Muhammadu Buhari federal government and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) over the non-remittance of stamp duties fund generated from the states.
The states are accusing the federal government of failing to remit funds generated from stamp duties into their coffers.
The States’ attorney generals prayed the court to compel Malami to pay N176 billion to states, being the backlog of stamp duties received between 2015 and 2020.
The 36 states prayed for, “An order of this honourable court directing the defendant to pay over to the plaintiffs all the sum of monies amounting to one hundred and seventy-six billion, sixty-seven million, four hundred thousand naira (N176,067,400,000,00) representing ascertained and admitted collected stamp duties on individual persons’ transactions within their respective states for the period of 2015 and 2020.
“And thereafter till the time of the judgment of this honourable court or any other sum as the plaintiffs may be found entitled by the honourable court.”
“And an order restraining individuals within the respective states of the plaintiffs or any manner interfere with the plaintiff’s right and authority in the administering the provision of Section 4(2) of the Stamp Duties Act Cap. S8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,” the court document revealed.
The states sought the court to declare their entitlement to receive 85 per cent of stamp duties generated from electronic money transfer levies and others.