The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has sharply criticised the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for sealing off its office in Abuja over alleged non-payment of ground rent, describing the action as ?unprofessional and disruptive.?

The FCTA enforcement team had on Monday shut down several properties across the capital city, including the FIRS office in Zone 5, Access Bank at Wuse Market, and a Total filling station, citing decades-long default on ground rent obligations as justification.

But the FIRS has denied the claims, insisting that the agency has no outstanding rent and had fulfilled its payment obligations up to 2023.

Reacting via a post on X, Aderonke Atoyebi, the Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Executive Chairman, refuted the allegations and accused the FCTA of spreading falsehoods.

?The FCTA is getting it all wrong. It?s a falsehood to claim that FIRS is owing ground rent for 25 years,? Atoyebi posted.

?Documents available show that we have paid all the dues until 2023. We have requested a receipt from February 19th, 2024, to no avail. This is wrong, and untrue.?

She further criticised the decision to close the office, particularly at a time when the agency is preparing to sign key Tax Reform Bills.

?It?s so unprofessional that Wike-led FCTA closed our office, distracting staff from going about their duties when we did nothing wrong. Especially in a crucial week like this when we are looking forward to signing the Tax Reform Bills. FCTA, you goofed big time, FIRS isn?t owing you,? she added.

Calling the FCTA?s action ?malicious and illegal,? Atoyebi demanded an apology and warned that the move could harm the FIRS? operations.

?If you are looking for a fall guy, please move further, we shouldn?t be your scapegoat when you know well that the lies you spread in the media and your malicious/illegal action will hurt our operations.

FIRS is not owing for 25 years. We have paid until 2023. We have the evidence.

There was no prior notice before the administrative rascality. We demand an apology.?

Meanwhile, the FCTA has continued a sweeping enforcement drive against property owners defaulting on ground rent payments. Officials revealed that over 8,375 property owners owe a combined total of N6.97 billion, with some debts dating back more than four decades.

Earlier this year, the FCTA revoked 4,794 land titles in high-value districts like Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki. In March, the administration also stripped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of its national secretariat land title, citing 19 years of unpaid ground rent. (AriseNews TV)

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