The Federal Capital Territory Administration has rejected accusations by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company that its C2 Maitama Substation was invaded, branding the claims as defamatory and malicious. The FCTA said it's prepared to pursue legal action against the power distributor.
Bashir Madaki Sunusi, acting director of the FCTA Department of Development Control, said AEDC's July 10, 2026 statement falsely accused an Assistant Director, Chinedu Okoro, of leading land grabbers to the substation.
The Department insisted its July 8, 2026 operation was lawful and transparent. It followed a formal complaint from a property owner who holds a valid Certificate of Occupancy signed by the FCT Minister.
According to Sunusi, the landowner couldn't access his property because AEDC officials had illegally blocked it. The Department sent Maitama District Officers and surveyors to establish the exact boundaries.
The team found no permanent structures or fencing at the site, only barbed wire allegedly used to seal off the area unlawfully. Surveyors then deployed standard equipment to determine if any actual encroachment on AEDC land had taken place.
AEDC's Chief Operating Officer, Blessing Ogwe, and Assistant Director Christine Emma-Kalu arrived during the exercise alongside police officers. The AEDC leadership later invited Department officials to their office for a resolution meeting.
Department staff waited from 2pm to 5pm at the scheduled meeting, but AEDC management never showed up. The Department said this was a missed opportunity to resolve matters professionally.
Regarding the power cuts that followed, the Department firmly denied causing any damage. "Our team didn't touch, alter or damage any electricity cables, structures or infrastructure," the statement noted.
Power supply was functioning normally when Department staff left the area, according to the administration. It accused AEDC of deliberately creating the blackout to provoke a crisis and attract public sympathy.
The Department called AEDC's public announcement a deliberate attempt to damage its reputation. It vowed to continue enforcing orderly development and protecting residents' land access rights across the FCT.
The administration advised AEDC to submit any legitimate land disputes to the FCT Minister, who has sole statutory authority over land allocations in the territory. It dismissed AEDC's approach as "cyber-bullying and corporate thuggery."
The Department demanded AEDC immediately remove the publication from all online platforms and publish a full public apology in major national newspapers. The apology must address both the Department and the staff member involved.
"If AEDC refuses, we'll have no choice but to pursue full legal action for defamation," the statement warned.
