By Ameh ochojila

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has temporarily halted the Rivers State government from collecting Value Added Taxes VAT until all legal disputes relating to the matter are resolved.

The court ordered that the judgment of the State high court from which the State drew authorities to collect the tax must not be implemented.

Justice Haruna Simon Tsanami who issued the order in Abuja on Friday also directed that the law passed by Rivers State House of Assembly and assented to by governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike must not be implemented.

The appellate court held that since parties have submitted themselves to the authorities of the court for adjudication of the matter, they must not do anything that Will destroy the subject matter of the appeal.

In a specific term, Justice Tsanami said the party should maintain status quo antebellum favour of the Federal Inland Revenue Services FIRS and against the respondents.