Poultry farmers’ suit against Oyo govt fixed for June 17

By Yemi Banjo - 03.06.2009

A suit filed by the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) against the Oyo State government over the imposition of environmental tax and other levies on its members in the state, has again, been adjourned to June 17, for hearing.

The suit was adjourned following the absence of the counsel to the state government from court on Tuesday.

Before adjourning the suit, the trial judge, Justice Olukayode Akinola, advised the counsel to PAN, Mrs. Remi Ogundere, to attach a certified true copy of the certificate of incorporation of the association because the one before the court was not certified and the words therein were not legible.

The poultry farmers, in the suit, among other things, alleged that the state government recently introduced “arbitrary levies and charges” to the tune of between N80,000 and N150,000 per farm as against N2,000 per farm being paid in 2000.

The poultry farmers further alleged that in addition to the levies and charges, they were paying various taxes and levies to the state and local governments in the state.