 has strongly criticized what it described as “the embarrassing invasion” of two of its offices by officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), over alleged unpaid ground rent.){kind=link}
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has strongly criticized what it described as “the embarrassing invasion” of two of its offices by officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), over alleged unpaid ground rent.
During a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Mr. Tyofa Abeghe, Director of the Facility Management Department at FIRS, along with the Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Kunle Ogidi, and members of the Media Team — Dare Adekanmbi, Collins Omokaro, and Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi — demanded a formal apology from the FCTA. They insisted the move was unjustified and based on misinformation.
FIRS firmly denied the FCTA’s claim that it owed 25 years’ worth of ground rent on two of its offices located at No. 12 and 14 Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
Abeghe said the allegation was false and clarified that the rent in question had been paid.
According to him, a demand notice issued by the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) in September 2023 for ground rent was met with a payment of ₦2,364,003 just three months later.
Despite the payment, Abeghe explained that no treasury receipt was issued. He said he followed up with a letter dated February 19, 2024, requesting confirmation and an official receipt. Although the letter was acknowledged by AGIS, it went unanswered and the payment remained unreceipted.
Speaking further, Ogidi accused the FCTA of negligence and misconduct, describing their actions as “rascality,” and said the administration had not done its due diligence.
He stressed that the FIRS met its obligations and had no outstanding debts on any of its properties in the FCT.
“As a law-abiding agency, FIRS does not owe FCTA ground rent on any of its offices in FCT on 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.”
Backing this up, Adekanmbi questioned the logic of the accusation, 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?”
Meanwhile, Omokaro and Arabirin emphasized the importance of fostering better cooperation between government agencies to prevent such incidents in the future. They also expressed regret over the distress caused to staff and taxpayers during the episode.