FCTA Officials, FIRS Staff Clash Over Sealing of Abuja Property
There was a heated face-off on Monday between officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over the attempted sealing of a property occupied by the tax agency in Abuja.
The confrontation occurred at the premises located in Zone 5, Wuse, when FCTA officials, accompanied by security personnel, arrived to enforce a directive to seal the building. The move was met with stiff resistance from security guards and some FIRS staff, who blocked access to the gate and challenged the FCTA team.
According to the Director of Lands at the FCTA, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the property is among several buildings whose land titles were recently revoked by the FCT Administration. Nwankwoeze insisted that due process was followed and that the action was lawful.
Despite the initial standoff and journalists being barred from entering the scene, the FCTA officials were eventually granted access and proceeded to seal the building.
The FIRS has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. However, the development is expected to trigger legal and administrative reviews between the federal agencies involved.
Source: FCTA Lands Department
