The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has faulted the sealing of its offices in Abuja FCT on Monday by officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), insisting it owes no outstanding ground rent as publicized by the FCTA.
Demanding a public apology from FCTA, the agency described the invasion of two of its offices located at No. 12 and 14 Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone as embarrassing,unjustifiable and based on false claims.
According to the agency, the N2.36m rent demanded by the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) was paid promptly, three months after the notice was issued in September 2023.
Tyofa Abeghe, Director of the Facility Management Department, told journalists on Monday that: “Nothing could be further from the truth on the claim as FIRS had long paid the said money.”
Abeghe said a payment confirmation letter dated February 19, 2024, was submitted to AGIS but was never acknowledged after submission .
“The letter, which was duly acknowledged by the front desk office of AGIS, was neither responded to nor the payment receipted,” he stated.
He thus described the invasion as a gross administrative failure on the part of the FCTA, urging the administration to admit its error and apologize publicly.
Also speaking, FIRS Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Kunle Ogidi, punctured the FCTA over what he called “administrative rascality,” adding that proper checks would have shown the rent had been long paid.
“As a law-abiding agency, FIRS does not owe FCTA ground rent on any of its offices in FCT or anywhere, including the ones invaded by these officials,” he said.
“For clarity, on the two offices sealed which are located on Plot 627, Sokode Crescent, a sum of N2,364,003.26 covering ground rent on the properties for the fiscal year 2000 to 2024 has since been paid,” Ogidi said.
FIRS media adviser, Dare Adekanmbi, picked holes on the logic of the FCTA’s move saying “FIRS has about seven offices in Sokode Crescent alone. Why are we going to pay ground rent on others and leave only two? Does that make sense?”
Other FIRS officials, Collins Omokaro and Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi, urged both agencies to strengthen collaboration to prevent future conflicts. They also expressed concern for staff and taxpayers traumatized by the incident.
The FCTA had on Monday embarked on sealing spree in the Federal Capital Territory. Among the sealed properties were the FIRS office, an Access Bank branch, the People Democratic party (PDP) national headquarters and a Total filling station in Wuse Zone 6 for alleged non-payment of ground rent.
Officials said the crackdown was part of a city-wide campaign to enforce compliance and recover N6.97bn in arrears from 8,375 defaulting property owners.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, defended the sweeping enforcement, which included revoking 4,794 land titles across high-profile districts such as Maitama, Garki, Asokoro, etc, Citing Section 28(5) of the Land Use Act.
Wike said defaulters had failed to meet the conditions of occupancy.
In a March 13, 2025 letter signed by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, one of the affected property owners was told.
“The Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 2456 for failing to pay annual ground rents due on the property for Thirty-Four (34) years.”
But, the FIRS insists that it is not among such defaulters, and that its compliance record remains unblemished.
“We pay our dues. We expect the same level of responsibility from other government institutions,” Ogidi said.
