FIRS Refutes Ground Rent Debt, Demands Apology from Wike Over Office Closure

FIRS Refutes Ground Rent Debt, Demands Apology from Wike Over Office Closure

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has firmly denied owing any ground rent on its properties in Abuja and has demanded a public apology from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) following the sealing of one of its offices.

On Monday, FCTA officials shut down FIRS facilities located at No. 12 and 14 Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, citing non-payment of ground rent. According to the FCTA, the move was part of a broader clampdown on property owners defaulting on statutory land charges.

However, the FIRS described the action as unjustified, embarrassing, and entirely avoidable, insisting that it has fulfilled all ground rent obligations, including those on the affected properties.

Speaking at a press conference held at the FIRS Revenue House in Abuja, Tyofa Abeghe, Director of Facility Management, clarified that a demand notice issued by the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) in September 2023 was settled within three months, with a payment of N2,364,003.

Abeghe noted that when a treasury receipt was not issued following the payment, he wrote to AGIS on February 19, 2024, to request confirmation and documentation. Despite acknowledgment of the letter, no response or receipt was provided.

In a statement, FIRS Chairman’s Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi, quoted Abeghe as saying, “The letter was received by AGIS but was never acted upon. The lack of proper verification before sealing the offices is unacceptable.”

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Also speaking, Kunle Ogidi, Special Adviser on Infrastructure, confirmed that the payment covered ground rent for the two sealed properties from 2000 to 2024. “As a responsible government agency, FIRS has no outstanding ground rent liabilities on any of its offices in the FCT, including those sealed,” Ogidi asserted.

FIRS further questioned the logic behind the FCTA’s action. “We have seven offices on Sokode Crescent. Why would we pay for five and leave two? It simply doesn’t add up,” Adekanmbi stated.

The agency accused the FCTA of administrative negligence and failure to conduct proper checks before taking enforcement action. It added that the payment in question was part of several similar transactions made to settle ground rents across its various properties in Wuse, Durumi, Katampe Extension, and the Central Area.

In its February 19 letter, FIRS asked AGIS to reconcile all payments and issue treasury receipts for nearly two dozen transactions.

As of now, the FCTA has not responded to FIRS’ statement or its demand for a public apology.