The Appeal Court sitting today in Abuja has ordered all parties to maintain status quo and refrain from taking action that would give effect to the judgement of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt that allowed the Rivers State government to collect Value Added Tax (VAT), pending the hearing and determination of the instant suit.

A three-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani handed the order today while ruling on an appeal filed by the federal tax agency, Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS).

The Appeal Court also ruled that the motion of joinder by the Lagos State government be admitted and gave the applicants two days to send in their written addresses.

Also, the respondents to the case were given two days to file their response, while the applicants were given a day to reply on the point of law