By Ben Adoga, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has rejected allegations by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) that its officials unlawfully encroached on the C2 Maitama Substation, describing the claim as false, defamatory and a deliberate attempt to intimidate government officials carrying out their statutory duties.
The FCTA, through its Department of Development Control, also demanded an immediate public apology and withdrawal of the publication, warning that it would institute legal action if the electricity distribution company failed to comply.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Director of the Department, Bashir Madaki Sunusi, the Administration said its officials were acting on a complaint by a lawful land allottee who alleged that access to his property had been obstructed.
According to the statement, officials, accompanied by surveyors, visited the site solely to verify land boundaries and determine whether any encroachment had occurred.
The Department insisted that no electricity infrastructure was touched during the exercise and dismissed claims that its activities disrupted power supply in the area.
“Our staff did not touch, alter or damage any electricity cables, structure or network infrastructure. The electricity supply was fully functional when our team departed the area,” the statement said.
The FCTA accused AEDC of fabricating claims of power disruption in a bid to discredit officials of the Department and sway public opinion.
“The subsequent power disruption was fabricated to ignite crises to curry sympathy from the public. There is a calculated attempt by AEDC to ridicule and blackmail our staff,” the statement added.
The Administration further alleged that AEDC invited its officials for a meeting after the site inspection but failed to honour the appointment despite the government team waiting for several hours.
Maintaining that its officials acted strictly within the law, the Department said no amount of intimidation would stop it from enforcing development control regulations across the Federal Capital Territory.
“No amount of cheap blackmail, media intimidation, or malicious publication will deter this Department from carrying out its statutory responsibility of enforcing orderly development,” the statement declared.
The Department demanded that AEDC immediately withdraw the publication from all online platforms and publish an unreserved apology in major national newspapers.
It warned that failure to comply would leave the Administration and the affected officials with no option but to seek legal redress for alleged defamation.
The dispute centres on ownership and boundary issues surrounding land adjoining the C2 Maitama Substation, with both parties maintaining conflicting claims over the property.
