“It’s sheer mischief” – House of Reps spokesman blasts Senator Ndume over comments on tax laws

Hon. Philip Agbese, deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has dismissed claims by Senator Ali Ndume that recently passed tax laws were falsified, describing the allegation as “sheer mischief”.

Agbese said due legislative processes were followed in the passage of the tax laws and that concerns being raised had already been addressed through institutional mechanisms.

Speaking in an interview on Friday in Abuja, he said the claims were misleading and capable of creating unnecessary tension and public distrust in the national assembly.

The lawmaker said it was wrong for anyone to suggest that the National Assembly altered or concealed provisions of the tax legislation.

He said both chambers of the legislature remained committed to transparency and accountability in lawmaking.

Agbese said the house had taken proactive steps by setting up a committee to examine concerns surrounding the tax laws, making allegations of a cover-up or legislative fraud unfounded.

“It is sheer mischief to suggest the tax laws were falsified,” he said.

Ndume had claimed during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time that there were at least two versions of the tax law gazette.

The Borno south senator said what President Bola Tinubu signed into law differed from what was passed by the national assembly.

He said he alerted the Senate leadership to the alleged discrepancies and faulted Akpabio for dismissing the claims instead of setting up a probe.

Agbese said the matter should not be politicised or sensationalised, noting that legislative review mechanisms exist to address genuine errors or ambiguities.

“This is exactly why the House set up a committee—to clarify the facts. Nigerians should not be misled into thinking that lawmakers are acting in bad faith,” he said.

He added that lawmaking must be guided by facts and due process, warning that speculative narratives could distract from efforts to reform Nigeria’s tax system in the public interest.

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