Nigeria, May 27 -- The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has denied claims that it owes ground rent on any of its Abuja properties and has demanded a public apology from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for sealing off one of its offices.

On Monday, FCTA officials shut the FIRS' facilities over what they described as the non-payment of ground rent on the buildings located at No. 12 and 14 Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5. The move, the FCTA said, was part of an enforcement campaign targeting property owners allegedly defaulting on statutory land charges.

But FIRS said the action was unjustified and described the invasion of its premises as both embarrassing and avoidable. It maintained that all dues had been paid, inc...