Land Row: FCTA dismisses AEDC’s invasion claims, threatens legal action

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has vehemently denied allegations by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) that its C2 Maitama Substation was invaded and encroached upon. The FCTA, through its Department of Development Control, labeled the AEDC's claims as defamatory and malicious, threatening legal action against the power firm.

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The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company AEDC that its C2 Maitama Substation was invaded and encroached upon, describing the allegations as defamatory and malicious, and has threatened legal action against the power firm.

According to the FCTA, its actions on July 8, 2026, were purely statutory, transparent, and professional. These actions followed a formal complaint from a lawful landowner who reported that AEDC officials had illegally obstructed access to their property, which holds a valid Certificate of Occupancy signed by the FCT Minister. A departmental team, accompanied by surveyors, visited the site to verify boundaries. They found no permanent structures but noted a barbed wire fence allegedly used for illegal barricading. Surveyors were deployed to establish precise boundary beacons.

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The Department’s actions on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, were purely statutory, transparent and professional, following a formal complaint from a lawful allottee holding a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) duly signed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT.

The FCTA also stated that AEDC's Chief Operating Officer and an Assistant Director arrived at the scene with police. Although invited to a resolution meeting at the AEDC office, FCTA officials waited for three hours without the management appearing. The FCTA asserted that its staff did not damage any electricity infrastructure and that power supply was functional when they left. They accused AEDC of fabricating the subsequent power disruption to manipulate public sympathy.

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The AEDC fabricated the subsequent power disruption to ignite crises and curry sympathy from the public.

The Department condemned AEDC's public announcement as a "cheap, calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of its staff." It vowed not to be deterred from its statutory responsibilities of enforcing orderly development and protecting citizens' land access in the FCT. The FCTA advised AEDC to present any legitimate land disputes to the FCT Minister, rather than engaging in "cyber-bullying and corporate thuggery," and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the publication and an unreserved public apology.

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The Department condemned the AEDC’s public announcement as a cheap, calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of its staff, and declared that the Department would not be deterred from executing its statutory responsibility of enforcing orderly development and protecting citizens’ access to land in the FCT.