•Denies debt, demands apology
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has strongly condemned what it described as an unwarranted and embarrassing invasion of its offices in Abuja on Monday by officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over an alleged ground rent default.
Shortly after sealing its premises, the FIRS Chairman, Dr Zach Adedeji, went to the presidential Villa to meet with President Bola Tinubu.
Details of their encounter were not disclosed at press time.
However, earlier at a press conference held at the FIRS headquarters in Abuja, senior officials of the agency, including the Director of Facility Management, Mr. Tyofa Abeghe; Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Mr. Kunle Ogidi; and members of the Media Team; Mr. Dare Adekanmbi, Mr. Collins Omokaro, and Aderonke Atoyebi, unanimously decried the action by FCTA officials and demanded a public apology.
The FCTA had claimed that FIRS owed 25 years of unpaid ground rent on two of its properties located at No. 12 and No. 14 Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. However, FIRS insists the claim is baseless and misleading.
“The allegation that we owe ground rent is completely false,” said Mr. Tyofa Abeghe. “We received a demand notice dated September 2023 from the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), and we responded appropriately. The amount of N2,364,003.26 was paid within three months of receiving that notice.”
Abeghe further explained that after the payment was made, the agency became concerned that no official receipt or confirmation had been issued. To address the issue, he wrote a follow-up letter dated February 19, 2024, to AGIS requesting confirmation of the payment and the issuance of a treasury receipt. The letter, he said, was acknowledged by AGIS but was never acted upon.
“Despite our due diligence, our offices were invaded as if we were lawbreakers,” Abeghe said. “This is not only embarrassing but entirely unjustified.”
Echoing his sentiments, Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Mr. Kunle Ogidi, described the incident as “administrative rascality,” and criticized the FCTA for acting without verifying records.
“If they had taken the time to review the records, they would have seen that the rent had been settled,” Ogidi said. “This is not how two government agencies should relate.”
He emphasized that the FIRS is a responsible and law-abiding institution that would never default on statutory obligations such as ground rent.
“For the record,” Ogidi continued, “FIRS does not owe FCTA ground rent on any of its properties within the Federal Capital Territory—including the two offices that were unjustly sealed.”
Providing further clarity, Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Dare Adekanmbi, expressed disbelief over the logic behind the FCTA’s claim.
“FIRS has about seven offices on Sokode Crescent alone. Why would we pay ground rent on five and deliberately refuse to pay on two?” he asked. “Does that make any logical or administrative sense?”
Adekanmbi stressed that such actions could damage inter-agency trust and disrupt the operations of public institutions. “The sealing of our offices inconvenienced not just our staff, but also taxpayers and stakeholders who depend on FIRS services. It was unnecessary and completely avoidable,” he said.
Also speaking at the press briefing, Collins Omokaro and Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi emphasized the importance of building synergy and mutual respect among government institutions. They called for improved communication channels and inter-agency collaboration to prevent such incidents in the future.
“It is crucial that we uphold decorum and professionalism in our engagements,” said Atoyebi. “What happened was unfortunate, and we must take deliberate steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
Omokaro added: “We also owe an apology to our staff and taxpayers who were unduly traumatized by this invasion. It’s not just about FIRS—it’s about preserving the dignity and efficiency of public service.”
The FIRS officials reiterated that they would pursue all appropriate channels to ensure that their payment is acknowledged and receipted, and demanded a formal apology from the FCTA for the incident.
“We have fulfilled our obligations. Now we expect the same level of professionalism and accountability from other agencies,” Abeghe concluded.
The dispute highlights the need for stronger inter-agency communication and process transparency within government operations, especially where public trust and service delivery are at stake.
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