Abuja- An FCT High Court on Tuesday fixed Jan. 11 for hearing of preliminary objection filed by Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) against Painted Abuja Taxi Drivers` Association (PAT).
Justice Olusunbo Goodluck gave the date after both counsel filed their written addresses before the court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the Association dragged AMAC to court over alleged multiple taxation.
NAN also reports that the taxis were licenced and issued to the drivers by the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Muhammad after it was launched by Vice President Namadi Sambo in June 2013.
At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Olajide Ogundife, urged the court to determine whether AMAC and FCT Administration (FCTA) could exercise concurrent jurisdiction over a similar issue of taxation.
Ogundife said “my lord, our contention is on whether AMAC, by the provisions of its bye-laws can impound the plaintiffs’ vehicles on the account that the plaintifs failed to pay their tax.
“This is an issue that only the court can determine.’’
He also asked the court to determine whether the FCTA or AMAC could impose tax on PAT members.
He, therefore, craved the indulgence of the court to file his written addresses in support of the case.
In his submission, counsel to AMAC, Mustapha Abubakar, however, said that the case had to do with the operations and powers of AMAC to regulate parks and the picking of passengers within AMAC.
H said “our position is that the suit as it is presently constituted is not competent, because the required pre-action notice was not given.
“And what was served on AMAC as pre-action notice does not conform to the provision of Section 124 of the Local Government Law applicable to AMAC,’’ he argued.
He contended that the facts upon which the case was filed were not justified, stressing that “AMAC, under Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, has the power to collect tax.’’
Meanwhile, the PAT Chairman, Mr Shehu Yar`Adua, told newsmen after the court session that his members were forced to pay multiple taxes.
He said members of the association were forced to buy tickets in every area council they conveyed passengers on daily basis. (NAN)
