Tinubu intervenes as DSS, EFCC battle in face-off

…Siege on our Lagos Office shocking — EFCC

…Says action disrupting to fight against financial crime

…We’re occupying our own facility, carrying-out official responsibility — DSS

…As President orders DSS to step down, says issue to be resolved amicably

By Moses Adeniyi and Sodiq Adelakun

It took the intervention of President Bola Tinubu to stem down a face-off which ensued between the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday.

Both intelligence based security  agencies embarked in a scuffle over possession of operation facility in Lagos.

The EFCC in a statement by its spokesman, Head, Media & Publicity,Wilson Uwujare, titled  “DSS’ Siege on Our Lagos Office Shocking — EFCC,” said its operatives of the Lagos Chapter, which it described as its ‘largest hub’ arrived at their office on No. 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Tuesday morning, only to be shocked with  denial of entry by agents of the DSS, who had barricaded the entrance with armoured personnel carriers.

According to the EFCC spokesman, the action which he said denied over 500 of its personnel access, was strange to the Commission given that its operatives have cohabited with the DSS in the same facility in question for 20 years without such incident.

The antigraft agency said the action cost it enormous draw-backs in its effort to fighting crime, saying the disruptions have “wilder implications for the nation’s fight against economic and financial crimes.”

The EFCC’s statement reads in part, “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.

“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 anti graft agency decried that 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.”

While the EFCC bemoaned the action, reactions credited to the DSS by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, quoted him to have discredited the development, saying “the Service is only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.”

However, following reactions trailing the face-off, President Tinubu directed the DSS to immediately vacate the said office of the EFCC in Ikoyi, Lagos.

A statement from the State House Presidential Villa, Abuja, by media aide to the President, Tunde Rahman, said the President gave the directive when report of the grievance of the anti-graft agency lamenting the prevention of its officials from access into their work place was brought to his attention.

The statement titled “President Tinubu directs DSS to immediately vacate EFCC office” read: “President Bola Tinubu has directed the Department of State Security Service to immediately vacate the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Ikoyi, Lagos.

“The President gave the directive when reports that DSS officials stormed the EFCC office located on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on Tuesday, preventing officials of the anti-graft agency from accessing their work place, was brought to his attention.

“The President said if there were issues between the two important agencies of government, they would be resolved amicably.”

NewsDirect gathered there has been a rough dispute between both agencies over the facility which the duo had both been occupying for about two decades.