By Ayo Kehinde
The Department of State Services, DSS, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC are at ‘ war’ over ownership of Lagos office building serving as office of the Commission.
To assert it ownership, operatives of the DSS on Tuesday, stormed the Commission’s office in Ikoyi, Lagos and prevented officials of the anti-graft agency from gaining access to their offices.
According to reports, the DSS operatives stormed the office at around 7:00am and refused to leave despite negotiations between agents from both agencies.
The spokesperson for the Service, Peter Afunanya said the DSS was occupying “its own facility” where it was carrying out an operation.
He disclosed this in a WhatsApp message to the Punch on Tuesday.
He said, “It is not correct that the DSS barricaded EFCC from entering its office. No. It is not true. The Service is only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.
“By the way, there is no controversy over No 15A Awolowo Road as being insinuated by the Media. Did the EFCC tell you it is contesting the ownership of the building? I will be surprised if it is contesting the ownership. Awolowo Road was NSO headquarters. SSS/DSS started from there. It is a common knowledge. It is a historical fact. Check it out.”
He, however, debunked claims that there is a rivalry between his agency and the EFCC.
Afunaya said, “There is no rivalry between the Service and the EFCC over and about anything. Please do not create any imaginary ones. They are great partners working for the good of the nation. Dismiss any falsehood of a fight.”
In his response, spokesperson EFCC Wilson Uwugaren in a swift statement on Tuesday said the invasion has not only disrupted the work of the Commission but left it’s officials in jeopardy.
Wilson Uwujaren said that “The operatives of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrived at their office on No. 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, this morning, May 30, 2023, to be denied entry by agents of the Department of State Services, DSS, who had barricaded the entrance with armoured personnel carriers.
“This development is strange to the Commission given that we have cohabited with the DSS in that facility for 20 years without incident.
He further added that “by denying operatives access to their offices, the Commission’s operations at its largest hub with over 500 personnel, hundreds of exhibits, and many suspects in detention have been disrupted.
“Cases scheduled for court hearing today have been aborted, while many suspects who had been invited for questioning are left unattended.
“Even more alarming is that suspects in detention are left without care with grave implications for their rights as inmates.
“All of these have wilder implications for the nation’s fight against economic and financial crimes.
“The siege is inconsistent with the synergy expected of agencies working for the same government and nation, especially when there are ongoing discussions on the matter.”
