FIRS Blasts FCTA Over ‘Illegal’ Office Sealing: Demands Public Apology

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has fired back at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) after its offices were abruptly sealed over alleged unpaid ground rents, calling the action “unjustified, embarrassing, and a display of administrative rascality.”

In a heated press briefing on Monday, FIRS officials revealed they had fully settled all ground rent dues—including for the sealed properties at No. 12 and 14 Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5—as far back as December 2023. The tax agency now demands a public apology from the FCTA for what it describes as a reckless enforcement operation.

Payment Made, Receipts Withheld
According to Tyofa Abeghe, FIRS Director of Facility Management, the service paid N2.36 million in December 2023—just three months after receiving the demand notice from the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS). Despite repeated follow-ups, including a formal letter in February 2024, AGIS allegedly failed to issue treasury receipts to confirm the payment.

“Does it make sense that FIRS would pay for five of its seven offices on Sokode Crescent and deliberately omit two? This is clearly a case of administrative failure on FCTA’s part,” fumed Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman.

Paper Trail Exposes FCTA’s Lapse
FIRS presented documents showing a history of ground rent payments for multiple properties across Abuja, including in Wuse, Durumi, and the Central Area. Kunle Ogidi, Special Adviser on Infrastructure, emphasized that the sealed offices were part of Plot 627, Sokode Crescent, whose rent from 2000 to 2024 had already been remitted.

“We are a law-abiding institution. FIRS owes FCTA nothing,” Ogidi stated. “This avoidable embarrassment stems from FCTA’s inefficiency, not our compliance.”

FIRS Demands Apology, Warns Against Repeat
The tax agency has demanded an immediate unsealing of its offices and a public apology from the FCTA. Officials warned that such actions disrupt critical government operations and undermine inter-agency cooperation.

As of press time, the FCTA has yet to respond to FIRS’ claims or the apology demand. Observers note the incident highlights systemic bottlenecks in Abuja’s land administration system, where payments often disappear into bureaucratic black holes.